A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit China's southwestern province of Sichuan on Monday, leaving at least 30 people dead and over 30 injured, Chinese media reported.

The quake struck Luding County in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture at 12:52 p.m. at a depth of 16 kilometers, prompting authorities to dispatch personnel for rescue efforts, they said.

Photo shows buildings damaged by an earthquake in China's southwestern province of Sichuan on Sept. 5, 2022. (Use in China, France not permitted)(CPA/Kyodo)

The quake was felt in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan, which is 226 km away from the epicenter, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered all-out rescue efforts to minimize casualties, the Xinhua report said.

Earthquakes frequently strike Sichuan. A large quake that jolted the province in 2008 left over 87,000 people dead or missing, including a number of pupils under flattened school buildings.