Moscow/Bishkek  - A 6.6-magnitude earthquake that hit the Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan on Sunday killed up to 58 people, reported the US Geological Survey and Interfax news agency.

The quake hit at 15:52 GMT Sunday near the Chinese and Tajik borders, with the epicentre 55 kilometres east-south-east of Sary-Tash, Kyrgyzstan at a depth of 35 kilometres.

The Civil Ministry said 58 people were killed, according to Interfax news agency. (dpa)