Pakistan quake kills at least 20

At least 20 people have died after an earthquake rattled a remote mountainous region of northern Pakistan.

The 5.5 magnitude tremor hit the Gilgit region, north of Peshawar.

Aftershocks have been rumbling through the region for several hours.

The epicentre was in the Himalayan province of Kashmir, an official of Pakistan's Meteorological Department says.

The hardest-hit villages are Turbling, Mushin, Dashkin and Harchu. They have a combined population of more than 6,000.

"We are expecting the casualties may rise," the spokesman said. "We do not have a number for the injured."

It is the second deadly earthquake in the region this month. At least 17 people were killed, 65 injured and four villages extensively damaged by a November 3 earthquake and subsequent mudslides in the region.