Nepal earthquake: Death toll rises above 3,000. Romanian climber on Everest says helicopters are evacuating two at the time

At least 3,326 people are now known to have died in a massive earthquake which hit Nepal on Saturday, say officials.

More than 6,500 people have been injured, according to the National Emergency Operation Centre, the BBC reports.

Dozens of people are also reported to have been killed in neighbouring China and India.

Thousands have spent a second night outside after the 7.8-magnitude quake, which also triggered deadly avalanches around Mount Everest.

Vast tent cities have sprung up in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, for those displaced or afraid to return to their homes as strong aftershocks continue.

Officials have warned that the number of casualties could rise as rescue teams reach remote mountainous areas of western Nepal.

Initial reports suggest that many communities, especially those close to mountainsides, suffered significant quake damage.

“Villages like this are routinely affected by landslides, and it’s not uncommon for entire villages of 200, 300, up to 1,000 people to be completely buried by rock falls,” Matt Darvas, spokesman for aid agency World Vision said.

Among villages affected are some inhabited by Tibetans, many of whom have sought refuge in Nepal. Bridim, north of Kathmandu, is reported to have been virtually flattened.

The roads to where the epicentre was, northwest of the capital, have been cleared and rescue teams are on their way.

Rescue missions and aid are arriving in Nepal to help cope with the aftermath of the earthquake, the worst to hit Nepal for more than 80 years.

Efforts to dig victims out from under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kathmandu are also continuing.

Rock climber Alex Gavan: Helicopters arrived at camp 1 and 2 on Everest

Romanian climber Alex Gavan said on Twitter that three helicopters arrived at camp 1 and 2 on Everest Mountain, which are placed at over 6,000 metres altitude, according hotnews.ro.

Because of the thin air, helicopters can only take two people at the time, said Gavan, located in the base camp.

Everest Base camp was hit by an avalanche of rocks and ice, survivors said.

More than 60 people were injured, and the climbers have sent desperate messages to call for helicopters to evacuate the wounded.

About 100 climbers and guides are unharmed, but stuck in camps 1 and 2 after Saturday’s 7.9-magnitude earthquake that made the Khumbu ice cascades leading to base camp impassable.