Walls shake in Nepalese cafe as second major quake hits Himalayan nation

A solitary bottle of Coca Cola shakes on an unsteady dining table as the colour drains from its owner's face.

He stands abruptly, trapped on the building's storey's-high balcony with its jolting walls as it becomes clear the city is being rocked by yet another earthquake.

This is one of a number of scenes to emerge from Nepal, just over two after a 7.8-magnitude quake claimed more than 8000 lives – many of them buried alive beneath rubble.

Back on the balcony, the camera pans to show scores of people who have rushed out in to the street below in scenes echoed across Kathmandu.

With the destruction of that initial quake fresh in their minds, fear and uncertainty is etched on their faces as they anxiously wait for the tremors – this time registered at magnitude-7.4 – to pass.

In another video being sharing on social media, crowds are shown standing on the tarmac at KTM airport in the capital.

Many of them have their phones pressed to their ears as they await news of their loved ones.

Speaking to The New York Times, Bikash Suwal, a trekking guide in Kathmandu, described how he and his colleagues fled the fourth floor of their building when it began to shake.

"We are scared as hell, but right now it was not so very powerful like before," Mr Suwal said.

Kathmandu-based relief worker Ollie Castell said the "strong shock" lasted 20-30 seconds.

"Now everyone is very worried … It is very disturbing for all of us," Mr Castell told Sky News.

The quake reportedly struck 19km underground, with an epicentre 68km west of the town of Namche Bazar, close to Mount Everest base camp, a US Geological Survey reports.

Aftershocks of magnitude-6.3 and 5.6 have also hit the country, according to the USGS.

There are no immediate reports of damage or casualties.