5.4-magnitude quake hits Sichuan: CENC

A 5.4-magnitude earthquake rattled Gongxian County of Yibin City in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 10:29 p.m. Saturday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The epicenter, with a depth of 10 km, was monitored at 28.43 degrees north latitude and 104.77 degrees east longitude, the CENC said.

Ke Yong, a publicity official of Gongxian county, said strong tremors were felt in the seat of the county government, and authorities were investigating casualties and property damage.

The strong after-shock may aggravate the damage from the 6.0-magnitude quake that hit Gongxian and neighboring Changning counties on Monday evening.

Yang Zhongqiao, an official of Gongquan town, said the quake was quite scary and caused some dilapidated houses to collapse.

The quake was felt in a school in Shuanghe Town of Changning, which is used as a shelter for people affected in the earlier quake. Tents and other facilities in the school were not damaged in the quake.

Tremors were also felt in Chengdu, Liangshan and other Sichuan cities as well as the neighboring Chongqing Municipality.