Nepal earthquake: Drone footage captures the devastated rubble of capital city Kathmandu

More than 4,000 people are believed to have died in the worst earthquake to strike the mountainous country in 80 years

Footage from the drone (Still, via YouTube)

Shocking drone footage has emerged of Nepal’s devastated capital city Kathmandu in the wake of the earthquake on Saturday.

More than 4,000 people are believed to have died after the strongest earthquake to hit the country since 1934 occurred on Saturday morning.

As the death toll continues to rise, with information about outlying areas scarce, the footage from the capital and nearby villages shows a glimpse of what life is like for the thousands of residents now camping in and outside the city.

Many buildings, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, lie destroyed or wrecked. The camera can be seen hovering above the devastated ruins of historical sites, many of which formed the lifeblood of Nepal's tourist industry.

Although some buildings appear to be intact, aid agencies have reported that thousands are too terrified to return to their homes – instead choosing to sleep in the open – following aftershocks.

"The government has asked them not to go back to their homes because there have been 65 aftershocks since the earthquake. Electricity and water are cut off, so supplying potable water is urgent," Mariona Minet of Spain’s Oxfam International told the Associated Press.

Other international aid organisations have also launched global appeals for safe water and sanitation facilities amid fears that diseases, such as cholera, could affect those sheltering outside the city.