BISHKEK: An earthquake in southern Kyrgyzstan has killed 58 people and destroyed dozens of houses in the Central Asian nation, the emergencies ministry said on Monday.

"We are continuing rescue operations to see if anyone may be still buried under the debris," said an emergencies ministry spokesman from the regional centre of Osh.

The earthquake measuring 6.3 according to the U.S. Geological Survey was felt throughout Central Asia late on Sunday, mainly in Kyrgyzstan.

The Kyrgyz emergencies ministry originally said it had no information of major destruction or casualties.