BEIJING -- A 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China on Friday, the U.S. 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 km north of Mianyang, which was severely hit by the 8.0-magnitude quake on May 12.

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