A magnitude-4.6 earthquake struck Anzhou District in the city of Mianyang, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Monday afternoon but an early warning may have helped to prevent casualties, officials said.

As a result of the area pre-warning, classes at some schools were evacuated in advance.

The quake was monitored at 3:20 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 km, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The early warnings were broadcast via mobile phone apps, TV channels and public loudspeakers seven seconds before the quake in Mianyang, and 25 seconds before in Chengdu, the provincial capital.

Tremors were also felt in neighboring cities including Chengdu, Leshan and Meishan, according to provincial earthquake administration.

Mianyang City was among some severely affected areas in a strong M8 earthquake on May 12, 2008, in Sichuan that killed nearly 70,000 people.

The province is located in a major seismic belt in China.

(With input from Xinhua News Agency)