Kathmandu: A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal early Wednesday, killing at least six people and destroying several houses in the western district of Doti, which is close to populated towns.

According to Bhola Bhatta, Deputy Superintendent of Police in Doti, eight houses collapsed, injuring five additional people, confirming a previous estimate given by Tulsi Rizal, a representative of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

After two significant earthquakes in 2015 destroyed entire towns and centuries-old temples, killed nearly 9,000 people, and damaged a $6 billion economy, Nepal is still rebuilding.

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A ground rescue team has been dispatched to the scene, and two helicopters are waiting in the nearby towns of Surkhet and Nepalgunj, according to Nepali Army spokesman Narayan Silwal.

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The magnitude of the earthquake in Nepal was recorded at 6.6. The earthquake was estimated at 5.6 on the Richter scale by the European-Mediterranean Earthquake Center (EMSC).

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The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km and its epicenter was about 158 ​​kilometers (100 mi) northeast of Pilibhit, a neighboring state in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

After the earthquake, media reports revealed that tremors were felt in New Delhi and surrounding areas of India.