of china's sichuan hit by earthquake again, ahead of olympic games

6.0-magnitude quake hits China's Sichuan province: A 6.0 magnitude earthquake rocked China Sichuan province, a few hours after the Olympic torch made its final stop in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu.

Reports indicated that one person was killed by the quake and at least 5 other people wounded.

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan province on Tuesday, close to the area that was devastated by a quake earlier this year, the US Geological Survey said.

The quake hit 48 kilometres northwest of Guangyuan city at a depth of 10 kilometres at 5:49 pm (0949 GMT), according to a statement on the USGS website.

An official with China Earthquake Administration, based in Beijing, confirmed that an "aftershock" had hit the area.

According to Reuters ("Strong quake hits China's Sichuan ahead of Games") and CNN ("Deadly earthquake hits China ahead of Games"), the Olympic torch was paraded in the Sichuan province

A shallow quake of Tuesday's magnitude is capable of significant property damage. The Olympic torch was paraded in the capital of earthquake-hit Sichuan province on Tuesday on its journey to Beijing, where the Games will open on Friday.

The earthquake occurred just before 6 p.m. local time, a few hours after the relay made its final stop in the Sichuan provincial capital of Chengdu.