KUNMING - Three people have been slightly injured after a 5.0-magnitude earthquake jolted the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan province on Wednesday morning, local authorities said.

The epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 9:45 am, was located in the border area between Eryuan and Yangbi counties, with a depth of 11 km.

Aside from the three injured people, cracks have appeared in some houses, said the Yunnan Provincial Civil Affairs Department.

A 60-member rescue team is on its way to the affected area, said the department. The Yunnan provincial disaster relief and civil affairs authorities have also dispatched a work team to the area.

"We really felt the shaking, which lasted a long time. Residents rushed out of their houses for shelter," said Xu Yuhua, a villager in Liantie Town, Eryuan.

Leading officials in Dali have also rushed to the affected area to guide rescue and relief work.

In March, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake injured 30 people in Eryuan.