6.6-strong earthquake kills dozens in Kyrgyzstan

The quake's magnitude was 6.6 and the epicenter was in Kyrgyzstan, the US Geological Survey said.

earthquake 88 (photo credit: )
earthquake 88
(photo credit: )
A powerful earthquake struck the mountains of Central Asia, killing 58 people and destroying more than 100 buildings in a village in southern Kyrgyzstan, emergency officials said Monday. The quake near the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan hit the remote village of Nura hard, injuring about 50 people in addition to the deaths, said Emergency Situations Ministry spokesman Abdusamat Payazov. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties elsewhere. The quake's magnitude was 6.6 and the epicenter was in Kyrgyzstan, the US Geological Survey said. The ministry said, however, the epicenter was in Tajikistan. It said a 5.1 magnitude quake followed a few hours later on Monday. The epicenter was some 215 miles (350 kilometers) south of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. The quake was felt in the nearest sizable city, the southern regional center of Osh, the ministry said. Earthquakes are common in the mountains of former Soviet Central Asia.