Earthquake kills 12 in Chechnya

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(CNN) -- At least 12 people were killed Saturday in an earthquake in Russia's Chechnya region, Russian news agencies reported.

More than 100 people were injured, Interfax and Ria Novosti said, citing local emergency officials. Interfax, quoting the Chechen Emergency Situations Ministry, reported that roads in the area were seriously damaged.

The U.S. Geological Survey described the magnitude 5.3 quake as moderate. It was centered about 25 miles east of Grozny, the Chechen capital, at a depth of 6.2 miles.

An emergency spokesman for the Russian North Caucasus republic's emergency ministry said buildings were destroyed in several districts, including Grozny, Ria Novosti reported.

People in neighboring regions of North Ossetia, Daghestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria also were affected by the quake, the news agency reported.

A stronger but apparently less damaging earthquake shook the British Virgin Islands at 6:40 a.m. ET Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.


The quake was centered about 50 miles north of Little Harbour, British Virgin Islands, at a depth of 18 miles, the USGS said.

"We are aware of the earthquake," a British Foreign Office spokeswoman told CNN. "Our governor's office (in the British Virgin Islands) is monitoring the situation and assessing whether there's any local damage, but at this stage there's been no reported local damage or casualties."