6.8 Earthquake hits India

Officials say a strong earthquake has hit northeastern India near the border with Nepal.

Regional TV station NewsLive reported that 10 to 12 buildings collapsed in Sikkim’s state capital of Gangtok. It said several people were rushed to a hospital but gave no further details. Calls to city officials, police, and hospitals were not going through.

Indian seismology official RS Dattatreyan said the quake struck today with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8. It was centered near the border with Nepal, and triggered at least two aftershocks of magnitude 6.1 and 5.3. He said more aftershocks were possible.