5.8 magnitude quake hits China`s Sichuan province: USGS

Singapore: A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck China`s southwestern province of Sichuan on Saturday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake struck 39 kilometres (24 miles) northwest of the city of Kangding in the mountainous west of the province at 4:55 pm (0855 GMT) at a depth of nine kilometres, the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

China Earthquake Networks Centre measured the quake at 6.3, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

China is prone to deadly earthquakes.

In May 2008, a 7.9 magnitude quake rocked Sichuan, killing more than 80,000 people and flattening swathes of the province.