At least 16 people have sustained minor injuries after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit Xingwen County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sunday, according to local authorities.
The quake, which struck at 12:46 p.m. local time, is the largest earthquake the county has ever experienced, reported the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).
As of 4:00 p.m. local time, 23 aftershocks had been recorded, though they were all less than magnitude 3.
With the epicenter of the earthquake recorded at a depth of 12 kilometers, the tremor was felt in Yibin City and several other cities including Chengdu and Leshan.
The rescue operation is underway after a 5.7-magnitude quake struck Xingwen County in China's southwest Sichuan Province on Sunday./ VCG Photo
A preliminary investigation into the damage caused by the quake shows that a total of 223 local houses have been severely damaged, with one leveled.
Among the 16 injured, five have been released from hospital.
The first group of rescue workers has already arrived at the affected area and the rescue operation is underway.