This is the terrifying moment locals fled from a cafe that violently shook when an earthquake hit China on Wednesday evening (July 14).

Footage shows the building rocking when tremors were felt from the magnitude 4.7 quake in Sichuan at around 11:36 pm local time.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported that the earthquake had a depth of 10km. Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicentre.

Qin, who lives in Chenghua district, said that when the earthquake happened, she was sitting on the sofa with a friend she suddenly felt shaking.

She said: ‘It shook a few times, paused for two seconds, and then continued to sway.’

Zhao from Jinjiang district added: ‘I was eating rice porridge when suddenly I was shaking badly. I dropped my rice bowl and it broke.’