A 5.4-magnitude aftershock struck southwest China's Sichuan Province Tuesday afternoon.

The latest aftershock hit Qingchuan County at about 4:03 PM, and the China National Seismic Network located the epicenter at 32.7 north latitude and 105.6 east longitude. The aftershock was strongly felt in the provincial capital Chengdu.

It was also felt in parts of neighboring Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, and many citizens rushed to streets from their homes, witnesses said.

A 6.4-magnitude aftershock, the biggest since May 12 when the 8.0-magnitude earthquake hits Sichuan, struck Qingchuan on Sunday afternoon.

Thousands of aftershocks have been reported in the province after the massive quake.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)