PHOTOS: 156 DEAD, 6,000 INJURED AS EARTHQUAKE HITS CHINA THIS MORNING

At least 156 people have been killed and thousands more left injured after a powerful earthquake jolted China's Sichuan province near the same area where a devastating quake struck five years ago.

More than 5,500 people are reported to have been injured in the earthquake which struck mountainous Lushan county shortly after 8am this morning local time, and 19 people have been reported missing in the wake of the tremor. The earthquake toppled buildings, triggered landslides and disrupted phone and power connections in the region.

Confusion: Girls in their pyjamas gathered outside buildings in Chongqing, China, after the earthquake hit this morning. More pics after the cut.

Aftermath: People were seen walking over the rubble of collapsed buildings after the devastating earthquake.

Aftermath: People were seen walking over the rubble of collapsed buildings after the devastating earthquake.

Casualties: People gathered on the street and away from buildings in Shifang in Sichuan province in case of aftershocks