Nghi Tan authorities in Tu Xuyen province said that 9 people died in Truong Ninh district, 3 others in Qixian district. The death toll has risen compared to six victims initially confirmed the night before.
More than 4,000 people were evacuated after a large number of structures collapsed or damaged after the earthquake in the suburbs of Nghi Tan.
More than 500 firefighters were dispatched to the scene. Rescue forces were also sent to bring 5,000 tents, 10,000 emergency beds and other rescue supplies.
Images from China's state broadcaster show that rescue forces have taken the survivors out of the rubble overnight.
Cracks also appeared after the earthquake on some major expressways connecting Nghi Tan and Tu Vinh, so these expressways were closed, according to Xinhua.
The Nghi Tan area was also hit by a series of at least four aftershocks, the largest of which was at 5.1 degrees richter.
Earthquakes occur frequently in Sichuan. A 7.9-magnitude earthquake that killed or left behind 87,000 people was reported missing in 2008.
