The epicenter of the quake was about 43 kilometers (27 miles) southeast of Kangding, a city of about 100,000 people, according to the USGS.
More than a million residents in surrounding areas are estimated to have experienced moderate tremors after the quake struck around 1pm local time, it added.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, according to state media CGTN.
Over the past two decades, 25 other earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher have occurred within 200 kilometers of Monday’s epicenter, according to the USGS.
Several large earthquakes have occurred along the Longmenshan fault – which runs through the mountains of Sichuan – where 2008 Sichuan earthquake beaten.
The 7.9 magnitude earthquake killed nearly 90,000 people and caused tremors in cities more than 900 miles away.
Last yearAccording to state media at the time, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck Sichuan, killing three people and injuring 60.
This is an evolving story.
