At least 13 people, including three children, were killed in an earthquake that hit the Russian North Caucasus region of Chechnya Saturday, according to an updated toll released today by the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry.

The quake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale hit Chechnya at about 1:00 p.m. Moscow time (0900 GMT) and the tremor was felt throughout the neighboring republics of Dagestan, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, and the Stavropol region.

The epicenter of the quake was at a depth of 10 km underground in Chechnya's northeastern Shelkovsky district, the Interfax news agency reported.

Some 52,000 people from three Chechen districts were left without electricity, according to the ministry.

About 500 families needed tent shelters for the night in the town of Kurchaloi, about 20 km southeast of the Chechen capital, which saw the worst damage in the region, it added.

The quake took place just one day before regional elections.

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov called on the public to go on with the voting.

Besides, he ordered the creation of a special commission to assess the needs of people following the earthquake.

"We have received information on damage from various districts... each and every (victim) will receive the necessary help and support," the president said.