A Communist Party official says, earthquake that hit China's Sichuan provinces this morning has left at least 32 people dead and injured more than 600.

Xu Mengjia, party secretary of Ya'an city, which administers the affected area told China Central Television that the casualty count could climb higher.

The quake, which struck shortly after 8 a.m. was measured 7 on richter scale by China's seismological bureau and at 6.6 by the U.S.

Geological Survey. It struck near the area where a devastating quake left 90,000 dead or missing and presumed dead five years ago.