The 7.3 earthquake that hit Nepal today was an aftershock to the disaster that left 8,000 dead more than two weeks ago, geologists have said.

The epicentre, near the base camp for Mount Everest, was less than 100 miles away from that of its predecessor on April 25, The Independent reports.

Scientists at the US Geological Survey said it was one of around 100 aftershocks, stronger than magnitude three, recorded since the previous earthquake.At least nine more tremors measuring up to 6.3 on the Richter scale followed it on Tuesday along the same fault line, spreading further panic, the report said.