A 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China on Friday, the US Geological Survey said, close to the area devastated by a massive tremor in May that left nearly 70,000 dead.

Chinese state media quoted local officials as saying that 231 people were hurt in the quake, which struck 65 kilometres (40 miles) north of Mianyang, which was severely hit by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12.

The tremor, which hit at 4:32 pm (0832 GMT), struck not far from an area hit by three quakes one week ago that killed one person and injured at least 17.

Friday's quake caused severe landslides and sent tonnes of rock tumbling down mountainsides in the north of Sichuan province on a route that leads to Huanglong and Jiuzhaigou, two popular tourist spots, Xinhua news agency said.

Along that route in Pingwu County, 540 homes were destroyed and 2,450 others damaged, local press officer Meng Xiancai told Xinhua.

Residents in the area ran out into the road in panic after the quake, the report said.

"I thought another 'May 12' earthquake occurred," a person identified only by the surname Zhang told Xinhua.

Many residents said they were too scared to return home and would spend the night outdoors, the report said.