KUNMING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- A villager died and another injured after being attacked by a wild elephant in southwest China's Yunnan Province, local authorities said Saturday.

The tragedy occurred on Friday morning in Mengla County, Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna, when a woman was working at her vegetable plot, according to the statement released by the county's publicity department.

She died at the site after she was attacked by an elephant that intruded into the village. The elephant injured another villager and damaged several houses as it fled.

In recent years, there have been frequent reports of attacks by wild elephants causing casualties and property losses in Yunnan.

Yunnan has purchased commercial insurance for people in some regions. The government pays the premiums, and the insurers compensate people when animals cause trouble.

Wild Asian elephants are placed under top state protection in China, with a population of about 300, mainly scattered in Xishuangbanna, Pu'er and Lincang in Yunnan.