According to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC), the earthquake occured at 4:33 am. local time (GMT+8) and its epicenter was monitored at 29.2 degrees north latitude and 105.34 degrees east longitude.

The CENC said that the quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres (six miles).

Though the United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake at magnitude 5.4.

Xinhua reported citing local authorities that the deaths and injuries were reported from Caoba Village in Fuji Township of Luxian County.

The Chinese media said that after getting approval from the provincial government, the earthquake relief headquarters of Sichuan had activated a Level-II response, the second highest in China's four-tier earthquake emergency response system.

Xinhua said in its report that Luzhou City had launched a level-I emergency response after the quake and nearly 3,000 people had been mobilized for rescue.

Local media reported quoting local authorities that some telecommunication base stations and cables had been damaged due to the quake while the Luzhou high-speed railway station had been closed and all coal mines had been ordered to halt underground operations and evacuate miners in shafts.

Deputy chief of the Sichuan earthquake administration, Zhang Zhiwei, told Xinhua that the quake, unlike the devastating Wenchuan Earthquake and Lushan Earthquake in the province, had happened in the fracture zone of Huaying Mountain.

A more serious quake is unlikely in the area, but aftershocks may occur, Xinhua news agency reported citing earthquake experts.