Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived at the epicentre of an earthquake in south-west Yunnan province today, state media reported.

The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck mainly Yunnan province yesterday and has so far killed at least 398 and injured over 1800, state broadcaster CCTV said.

CCTV showed footage of Li boarding a Yunnan-bound plane and speaking to several officials about aid and rescue operations in Beijing on Monday morning.

The epicentre was in Longtoushan town in Yunnan's mountainous Ludian county, home to some 265,900 people, official Xinhua news agency said.

State-run broadcaster China News Service showed footage of Li arriving at the epicentre in Ludian County at 2:25 pm local time (0625 GMT).

Li apparently had to walk five kilometres (3.1 miles) through rubble on foot because the surrounding roads to the disaster zone were obstructed in the earthquake, China News Service said.

Search and rescue efforts are ongoing, Xinhua said.

The government is sending 2,000 tents, 3,000 folding beds, 3,000 quilts and 3,000 coats to the disaster zone, where heavy rain forecast for the coming days will add to the misery, Xinhua said.