11 dead in Indian earthquake

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the northern state of Sikkim, India, near the border of Nepal killing at least 11 people.

Three people died in Kathmandu after a wall of the British Embassy collapsed, reports CNN. 33 people were injured and six people died in India, according to CNN. Two buildings have collapsed, and others have sustained damage. First responders have been attempting to help survivors.

The epicenter of the earthquake was north of Gangtok, a city in Sikkim- and the earthquake was followed by aftershocks, reports the Hindu. A total of three quakes struck the region in rapid succession- according to the U.S. geological survey, the larges was at 6.9, and the other two at 4.8 and 4.6. They occurred within an hour and 15 minutes of each other. According to the India Meteorological Department, however, the quakes were at 6.8, 5.7 and 5.3.

Sikkim is already reporting the loss of power, and phone communication. According to local television stations, two major roads in the Sikkim area have collapsed, reports USA Today. Roads are blocked, making it more difficult to rescue people.  Most of the damage from the quakes has come from landsides, caused by both the quake, and heavy rains.  The full extent of the damage is unknown, reports USA Today, because the region is populate sparsely, with many people living in remote areas that are now cut off by the landslides. 

According to Deepak Kumar Pandey, Indo-Tibetan Border Police's spokesperson, the death could increase as they learn more.

No Tsunami warning has been issued. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh responded swiftly, calling an emergency meeting with the National Disaster Management Authority. The Indian Air Force sent five planes to aid in the rescue efforts. The army has been deployed to search for anyone who might be pinned under debris.