20 people killed, almost 300 injured after earthquake in China. The first tremor was followed by a series of quakes.

At least 20 people have been killed and almost 300 injured after a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit the northwest central Gansu province of China. The death toll is expected to rise as authorities continue the search for possible victims.

All the casualties so far have been confirmed in Gansu province, according to the local government.

The quake hit near the city of Dingxi in Gansu province, one of the least populated in the whole country. However, the Dingxi area has a great concentration of farms and towns. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring cities of Longnan, Tianshui, and the provincial capital city of Lanzhou.