Three injured by quake in central China

BEIJING, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- A moderate earthquake that rattled central China Monday afternoon injured three people, say local authorities.

Two of the injured were sent to a local hospital in mountainous Badong County where the 5.1-magnitude temblor hit in extreme western Hubei province, Xinhua reported.

The China Earthquake Networks Center said the epicenter was about 3 miles below the surface.

Some 79 homes were destroyed and about 1,500 others severely damaged, said a spokesman for the Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Cost of the damage was estimated at $2.6 million.