"It seemed like a sailing boat in storm," a Kathmandu resident told his friend Kabin Shrestha here via mobile phone about Saturday's earthquake which has killed at least 1,800 people.

Kabin is working thousands km away from home as a porter at Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur's Sama Sama hotel which is close to the airport. "I feel so sorry for my relatives and friends at home," Kabin told Xinhua reporters at the hotel who stayed there for the transit to the quake-battered nation.

He managed to exchange with Xinhua all information obtained about Saturday's devastating earthquake in broken English and with the help of gestures.

The 21-year-old man said one of his friends, among thousands of others, slept outside for the night in Kathmandu, fearing for further aftershocks.

The violent 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal at midday on Saturday, destroying ancient temples, triggering an avalanche and leaving thousands killed. "I am sad. I have toured Kathmandu for six times since childhood. The city is our pride,"said Kabin.

His home village Rupadehi is some 100 km away from the capital, where merely light tremors were felt on Saturday. "All my family members are safe, which is the only relief."

Kabin made many phone calls to friends in Kathmandu. "Mobile phone signals are turning from good to bad from time to time," he said.

One of his friends said he clutched blankets when gathering in open areas at a temple compound Saturday night. "He has no food and water for the night,"said Kabin. Xinhua reporters asked him to contact friends for situation at Kathmandu' s Tribhuvan International Airport, the largest and sole international airport in Nepal.

Kabin's friends said things stayed calm at the airport, as reporters and aid workers from other countries have been in hard bid to flock in.

Another friend told Kabin that at Thamel Chowk,or Thamel square, a tourist neighborhood in Kathmandu's city center, many restaurants failed to open on Sunday morning as some of their buildings were damaged in the quake.

Dozens of restaurants used to cluster in the district, serving cuisines from the Middle East to Mexico.

The Dharahara Tower, constructed in 1832, was also destroyed on Saturday's tremor. "It is so huge a pity for the temple,"said Kabin, adding that he was so proud of the religious site during his past visits.

The number of people who were at the multi-storey tower when it collapsed has not been clear so far.

Media reports said most of the tower was seen collapsed but the base remains. Witnesses said 60 bodies were found in the rubble.

As the largest city and capital of Nepal, Kathmandu boasts the hub for backpack travelers as well as a growing vacation spot catering to all budgets. "The earthquake will damage tourism business,"said Kabin who had six-month hotel work experience.