GROZNY, October 11 (RIA Novosti) - The number of people killed in Chechnya in an earthquake measuring about 5.5 on the Richter scale has risen to six, and 116 people have been injured, the Russian North Caucasus republic's emergencies ministry said.

However, the NTV television channel quoted the republic's health ministry as saying 12 people were killed.

Akhmed Dzheirkhanov, an acting department head at the emergencies ministry, said buildings had been destroyed in several districts of Chechnya as well as in the capital, Grozny, and the cities of Gudermes and Argun.

People in the neighboring republics of North Ossetia, Daghestan, Ingushetia and Kabardino-Balkaria, as well as the Stavropol Territory, were also affected by the quake.