Buildings abandoned after 7.3 shock

THOUSANDS of Nepalese spent last night outdoors after a second big earthquake hit the Himalayan nation on Tuesday, killing dozens of people and setting back the recovery from last month’s devastating quake.

Most of the victims of this latest 7.3 magnitude quake were in Dokha district, about 80km northeast of Kathmandu, the district’s chief government administrator, Prem Lal Lamichane, said yesterday.

Nepal is still struggling to recover from the devastating April 25 quake, which killed more than 8000 people.

A US Marine Corps heli- copter carrying six Marines and two Nepalese soldiers was reported missing while delivering disaster aid in northeastern Nepal yesterday, although there were no indications that it crashed.

Home ministry official Laxmi Dhakal said last night army helicopters were scour- ing the Sunkhani area, nearly 80km northeast of Kathmandu, for the missing helicopter.

Tuesday’s quake, centred midway between Kathmandu and Mt Everest, struck hardest in the foothills of the Himalayas, triggering some landslides, but it also shook the capital badly, sending thousands of terrified people into the streets.

Parliament was in session when the quake hit, and frightened MPs ran for the exits as the building shook and the lights flickered out.

At least 65 people were killed and 2000 injured.