Devastation in Nepal
The destructive earthquake in Nepal has caused incredible suffering with more than 1,400 dead and hundreds more injured. Many historic buildings and cultural sites have been damaged and destroyed.
Dust over the city
A cloud of dust looms over the Nepalese capitol Kathmandu. The epicenter of the earthquake was some 80 kilometers to the west. Effects of the quake were also felt in India and Bangladesh.
Destroyed buildings
The earthquake had a magnitude of 7.8, destroying numerous buildings in Nepal, among them many of historical importance. Streets were torn open and transportation came to a standstill. The country's only international airport was also closed.
The search for survivors
Residents of Kathmandu search for survivors in the rubble. Nepal's Interior Ministry says it fears that the number of victims will rise.
Rescued from a nightmare
This man was trapped in the rubble. Volunteers helped free him from the debris of collapsed houses.
First aid
Medical personnel care for injured residents in front of the Manmohan Memorial Hospital.
Solace and sadness
Survivors comfort each other, yet many are worried about family and friends. The region around the Himalayas is considered to be susceptible to earthquakes.
World Cultural Heritage Site destroyed
The earthquake greatly damaged Durbar Square in Kathmandu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Seven World Cultural Heritage Sites are concentrated within a few kilometers of each other in the Kathmandu Valley.
Tower in ruins
The nine-story Dharahara, also known as the Bhimsen Tower, was one of the attractions of the Nepalese capital. It collapsed during the earthquake, and now only a few meters of scaffolding remains.
Kathmandu architecture
The Bhimsen Tower was built in 1832 under Nepal's then Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa. It resembled an Islamic minaret.
Unknown extent
Residents of Kathmandu look at a neighborhood destroyed by the earthquake. At this point there is no telling the extent of the catastrophe.