Soldiers are on the way for rescue work after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit Yingjiang County in southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 11, 2011. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted Yingjiang County Thursday noon, killing at least 25 people and injuring 250 others. (Xinhua/Qin Qing)

YINGJIANG, Yunnan, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Soldiers with sniffer dogs and life detectors kept searching in the rubble Friday for survivors after a moderate quake hit a densely-inhabited town in southwest China a day ago.

The 5.8-magnitude tremor, which jolted Yingjiang County of Yunnan Province near the border with Myanmar, has left 25 people dead and 250 others injured.

The county has a population of 300,000 people and is home to many ethnic groups.

The youngest victim was 3 years old. Among those killed were five students. Doctors said 134 people were seriously injured.

The earthquake destroyed more than 18,000 houses and damaged around 50,000 others.

Rescuers were ordered to search every damaged building for survivors.

Gao Lei, a 21-year-old firefighter, staggered through the debris of Yongsheng Hotel along with five fellow firefighters and three sniffer dogs.

"We haven't found any sign of people buried here," said Gao.

"Though, we found three people buried in an adjacent tailor's shop. They are safe now," he said.

Many soldiers used their hands to dig through the rubble as machines could not be operated there.