An Earthquake in the southern Chinese Providence of Yunnan killed at least 367 and injured more than 1,800 people. The Associated Press reported that it is estimated that around 12,000 homes were destroyed as well. The 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit around 4:30 p.m. local time six miles below the Earths crust, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was about 14 miles from the city of Zhaotong

One of the residents Ma Liya was helping to carry residents out of the buildings and said that the streets were like a "battlefield after bombardment."

"We had no time to take care of the bodies. We need to help those alive first," he told Xinhua.

A resident in Ludian county, 14 miles from the epicenter, wrote on twitter, "The walls of several buildings crumbled, and water pipes were ruptured. The electricity was cut off," the Daily Star reported. The user also sent pictures of the crumbled buildings and chaos afterwards.

Most of the deaths were in Zhaotong and another 10 were reported in Quijing City.

Sky News reported that power lines and communications were badly affected as well.

Several world leaders have offered their condolences to those who lost their lives.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those that lost their lives," National Security Council deputy spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said. "The United States stands ready to assist."

The U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered sent a statement from his office as well saying that the U.N. is ready to "lend its assistance to efforts to respond to humanitarian needs" and "to mobilize any international support needed."

More than 2,500 troops have been dispatched to the region, according to Xinhua. The Red Cross branches in China have sent quilts, jackets and relief supplies to those who were made homeless by the earthquake.

The earthquake was so strong that tremors were felt in the neighboring providences of Guizhou and Sichuan

The region has been prone to earthquakes in the past. In May of 2008, there was an earthquake that left 90,000 people dead or missing, and in 1970 there was a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 15,000.