JIUJIANG China), Nov 26: At least 14 died, hundreds more were injured and thousands of houses collapsed when a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck near this popular tourist destination in east China on Saturday, officials said.

The quake, the biggest in the region in half a century, could be felt in cities hundreds of kilometres away when it hit at 8:49 am (0049 GMT), according to the China National Seismic Observation Network.

The epicentre was near the city of Jiujiang in Jiangxi province, home to half a million people and a traditional scenic spot that was praised by Tang dynasty poets more than a millennium ago.

Official media reported that 14 people were confirmed dead, while more than 370 had been injured. The State Seismic Bureau said seven people had been killed in Jiujiang, five others in nearby Ruichang, and two more in Wuxue city.—AFP