Medical workers treat a woman after an earthquake in China's Yunnan Province, early on Saturday. AP

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Yunnan province in southwestern China late on Friday, late Friday, killing three people and injured 28, local officials and seismologists said.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the quake — which hit at 9:48 pm (1348 GMT) at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres (six miles) — was near the city of Dali, a popular tourist destination.

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The quake hit at a depth of 8 km (5 miles) and was followed by aftershocks, according to data from China earthquake Networks Center.

Rescue personnel carry supplies after an earthquake in China's Yunnan Province, early on Saturday. AP

The quake monitor said the earthquake followed a series of smaller quakes less than an hour before.

Yunnan is acutely vulnerable to earthquakes. The region sees frequent seismic activity from the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which form the vast Himalayan mountain range.

CCTV quoted authorities as saying the collapse of some roads along with landslides had cut some transportation lines, but electricity, telephones and internet were working.

Rescue workers set up disaster relief tents following an earthquake in Yunnan province, China. Reuters

CCTV said an emergency was declared and rescue operations were launched in Dali, a city of 134,000 people in Yunnan province about 24 km (15 miles) from the epicentre.