Washington: US officials said a US Marine Corps helicopter providing assistance in the wake of the Nepal earthquake is missing.

Navy Captain Chris Sims said the Huey was conducting disaster relief operations near Charikot, Nepal, on Tuesday.

The aircraft is part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469. US officials would not say how many people were on board the helicopter.

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Tuesday killed at least 68 people and spread panic in Nepal, bringing down buildings already weakened by a devastating tremor less than three weeks ago and unleashing landslides in Himalayan valleys near Mount Everest.

The new earthquake was centred 76 km (47 miles) east of the capital in a hilly area close to the border with Tibet, according to coordinates provided by the US Geological Survey.