Rescue team members participate in an earthquake drill in Yucheng district, Ya'an city of southwest China's Sichuan province, May 14, 2021. (XING GUANGLI / XINHUA)

BEIJING - A level-IV national emergency response has been activated after two earthquakes hit southwest China's Sichuan province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said Friday.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with level I representing the most severe response

A 5.8-magnitude quake first struck the Maerkang City of Aba Tibetan-Qiang autonomous prefecture at 00:03 am Friday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. The epicenter, at a depth of 10 km, was monitored at 32.27 degrees north latitude and 101.82 degrees east longitude.

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This was quickly followed by another 6.0-magnitude quake at 1:28 am with the epicenter, measuring a depth of 13 km, monitored at 32.25 degrees north latitude and 101.82 degrees east longitude.

A work team has been dispatched to guide and assist the local emergency rescue efforts, the ministry said.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with level I representing the most severe response.