Fresh quake adds casualties while Nepalese PM calls for calm, relief action

Houses are seen collapsed after an earthquake in Kathmandu, Nepal, May 12, 2015. The death toll in a fresh powerful quake that hit Nepal on Tuesday has reached 65 and more than 1,900 others were injured, the Ministry of Home Affairs said on Wednesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

KATHMANDU - While many residents of the Nepalese capital city were sent back to the streets or even forced to stay outside overnight by Tuesday's powerful quake, the government has called on citizens to remain calm and act to help search, rescue and relief efforts.

The quake, which Nepal's National Seismological Center said was measured at 6.8 on the Richter scale, has claimed 65 lives while leaving some 1,926 people injured with 1,692 of them medicated, according to the National Emergency Operation Center.

The Nepal Police reported on Wednesday that five structures were completely destroyed while 12 other buildings were partially damaged in the fresh quake.

Xinhua correspondents witnessed crowds of panic-stricken people rushed out of their residents and office buildings in several parts of Kathmandu shortly after Tuesday's strong tremor was felt. Police officers were in front of some big buildings guiding people running to the open space.

Many people were seen lying and sitting either under the tarpaulin, in courtyards or by the roadside in the night.

Old people and women with their children were still spotted at roadside Wednesday morning.

"We have no option but to sleep under the open sky until we feel safe to go inside the house," said Kopila, a local citizen, quoted by the Republica daily newspaper.