CHENGDU - Nine Chinese military helicopters have arrived in quake-hit Xigaze city in Tibet autonomous region to help with relief work following Saturday's earthquake.

Six helicopters left the Chengdu Military Area Command base at 7:40 am. Another three helicopters took off from Tibet's Nyingchi base.

Eighty soldiers were on board the helicopters.

A 8.1-magnitude quake shook Nepal at 2:11 pm (Beijing Time) on Saturday, killing at least 3,218 people. The quake also strongly affected parts of Tibet, adjacent to Nepal.

In Tibet, at least 20 people have been killed and 58 injured.