BEIJING (AFP) - A 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck China's southwestern province of Sichuan on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake hit 25km north-west of the city of Kangding in the mountainous west of the province at 11.19pm (23.19 Singapore time) at a depth of 11km, the USGS reported.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The China Earth Networks Centre measured the quake at 5.8 and at a depth of 16km.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck the same area on Saturday, killing five and injuring dozens.

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