A strong earthquake struck a lightly populated, mountainous area of western China yesterday, killing at least one person, injuring 15 others and causing at least two homes to collapse, officials and state media said.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude-5.9 quake had a depth of 14.6 kilometres. It struck in the late afternoon about 30 kilometres from the town of Kangding in Sichuan province. China’s seismological agency said the quake’s magnitude was 6.3.

A woman in her 70s died after being struck by a falling window pane, the official Xinhua News Agency and state broadcaster CCTV said, citing Chen Yunbing, a doctor at the region’s Ganzi People’s Hospital.

No additional information was given about the 15 injured.

A duty officer at the Kangding county government, who gave his surname as Xia, said the quake lasted only a few seconds, and that there had been some reports of cracks in buildings and toppled walls.

The area is frequently struck by earthquakes, and Xia said newly constructed buildings in the town of Kangding must be able to withstand those of up to eight in magnitude, although requirements are less strict in the surrounding rural area.

Along with the two collapsed homes, Kangding’s regional airport sustained some damage, though flights were not disrupted, Xinhua said.