BEIJING -- The China Earthquake Administration (CEA) on Thursday launched a level-IV emergency service response to the 5.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the county of Xinlong in Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture, Southwest China's Sichuan province.

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC), the earthquake hit at 1:17 pm on Thursday at a depth of 10 km.

Following the earthquake, the CEA immediately heard briefings from the CENC and the Sichuan Earthquake Agency -- and urged strengthened monitoring and continuous assessment of the situation.

A working team from the Sichuan Earthquake Agency has been dispatched to affected areas to support local governments in emergency response efforts.