Powerful quake strikes Nepal, tremors felt near capital

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck northern Nepal near Kathmandu on Friday, according to the country’s National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Centre.

The earthquake struck around Bhairab Kunda of the Sindhupalchok District in Nepal.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences placed the magnitude of the earthquake at 5.6, and the depth at 10 km (6.21 miles).

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquake.

"It shook us from our sleep strongly," Ganesh Nepali, a senior official of Sindhupalchok district, told Reuters. 

"We rushed out of home. People have now returned back to homes. We have not received any report of damage or injuries so far."