In 2008, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Wenchuan, in the same province of Sichuan, killed roughly 68,000 people. It occurred at a depth of 12 miles.

Chinese reporters in Sichuan noted that the quake had struck when many residents in Ya'an had already risen and left their homes for the day. The quake shook buildings for at least ten seconds, according to witnesses.

Large crowds of people had gathered in the streets in Ya'an with their belongings and residents posted several photographs on Chinese microblogs of collapsed buildings.

A man who answered the phone at the Ya'an city government told the Associated Press that telecommunications were cut and that medical and rescue teams are on the way to the area.

"I felt the strong quake this morning in my office. All drawers of the desk opened and some stuff on the table fell on the floor," said the man, who refused to give his name, as is usual with low-ranking Chinese government officials.

Because the earthquake struck on a weekend, there were no classes at local schools. In the 2008 earthquake, a large number of children were killed in poorly-constructed school buildings.

The authorities in Sichuan launched a level one emergency rescue plan and China Central Television, the state broadcaster, said the nearest major airport in Chengdu had been temporarily closed and flight disruptions were expected.