A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck in western Nepal at about 2am local time (20:15 GMT) causing several houses to collapse.
Bhola Bhatta, deputy superintendent of police in Doti, said that four children were among the fatalities that occurred when eight houses collapsed after the earthquake struck the mountainous western region. Bhola Bhatta, deputy superintendent of police in Doti, said that four children were among the fatalities that occurred when eight houses collapsed after the earthquake struck the mountainous western region.
The police chief confirmed earlier information provided by home ministry official Tulsi Rijal.
The deceased included an 8-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl, two 14-year-old girls, a 40-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man, Bhatta said, according to The Kathmandu Post news outlet.
A ground rescue team has been rushed to the site, and two helicopters were on standby in nearby Surkhet and Nepalgunj towns, a spokesperson for the Nepali army, Brigadier-General Narayan Silwal, said.
