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A powerful earthquake struck Nepal on Saturday, killing nearly 1,400 people across a swath of four countries as violent trembles collapsed houses, levelled centuries-old temples and triggered avalanches on Mount Everest.

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At least 1,394 people were confirmed dead across Nepal, according to the police. Before police updated the death toll, more than 630 were reported dead in the densely populated Kathmandu Valley and at least 300 more in the capital, according to a police spokesman. 

Another 34 were killed in India, 12 in Tibet and two in Bangladesh. Two Chinese citizens died in the Nepal-China border. The death toll is almost certain to rise, said deputy Inspector General of Police Komal Singh Bam.

It was a few minutes before noon when the quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.8, began to rumble across the Kathmandu Valley, rippling through the capital Kathmandu and spreading in all directions — north toward the Himalayas and Tibet, south to the Indo-Gangetic plains, east toward the Brahmaputra delta of Bangladesh and west toward the historical city of Lahore in Pakistan.

6.6-magnitude aftershock

A magnitude-6.6 aftershock hit about an hour later, and smaller aftershocks continued to jolt the region for hours. Residents ran out of homes and buildings in panic. Walls tumbled, trees swayed, power lines came crashing down and large cracks opened up on streets and walls. And clouds of dust began to swirl all around.

"Our village has been almost wiped out. Most of the houses are either buried by landslide or damaged by shaking," said Vim Tamang, a resident of Manglung village near the epicentre. He said half of the village folks are either missing or dead. "All the villagers have gathered in the open area. We don't know what to do. We are feeling helpless," he said when contacted by telephone.

Meteorologists forecast rain and thunderstorms were also predicted for Saturday night and Sunday.

Within hours of the quake, hospitals began to fill up with dozens of injured people. Many came to the main hospital in central Kathmandu. Among them was Pushpa Das, a labourer, ran from the house when the first quake struck but could not escape a collapsing wall that injured his arm.

"It was very scary. The earth was moving ... I am waiting for treatment but the [hospital] staff is overwhelmed," he said, gingerly holding his right arm with his left hand. As he spoke dozens of more people showed up with injuries, mostly from falling bricks.

It was the worst tremor to hit the poor South Asian nation in over 80 years.

Following the quake, Kathmandu's international airport was shut down.

Canada pledges support

Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson said Canada is reaching out to provide help to the nation of 28 million and the 388 Canadians known to be there.

"Canada will do everything it can to assist," Nicholson told CBC News on Saturday from Iqaluit.

'Everything's in motion right now.'- Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson

"The lines are open and we're doing everything possible to make contact with Canadians in the area, and do whatever we can to assist in this terrible tragedy."

Nicholson said it is not known if any Canadians have been killed or injured, noting that communication with the area is still difficult.

"Everything's in motion right now."

Canada is co-ordinating its efforts with the UN, the Red Cross and diplomats in the area, he said.

A quake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.8 struck Nepal before noon on Saturday. A magnitude-6.6 aftershock hit about an hour later. (Submitted by Patrick Adams)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also expressed sympathy and pledged support for the region. 

"We mourn with the people of Nepal and India in the aftermath of this terrible natural disaster and offer our help and our prayers," Harper said in a statement. 

Canadians checking on their relatives and friends in Nepal and the surrounding affected areas should contact the department's 24-hour Emergency Watch and Response Centre at 613-996-8885 or 1-800-387-3124, or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca.

The Registration of Canadians Abroad Service has 388 Canadians listed as being in Nepal. However, this number provides only an estimate as registration is voluntary.

The buildings in the Kathmandu Valley, home to 2.5 million people, are very vulnerable to major earthquakes and many have fallen over, Harriette Stone, an earthquake engineer from England's University College London, told CBC News.

"There are a lot of mason buildings that are susceptible to damage," she said. "It's one of those days we all dread."

While the extent of the damage and the scale of the disaster are yet to be ascertained, the quake will likely put a huge strain on the resources of this poor country best known for Everest, the highest mountain in the world, and its rich Hindu culture. The economy of Nepal is heavily reliant on tourism, principally trekking and Himalayan mountain climbing.