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26 Apr 2015

Nepal quake devastation: before and after images

Temples and historic sites in Nepal are seriously damaged or completely destroyed following a magnitude 7.9 earthquake that hit the country on Saturday, killing more than 2,000 people.

The massive earthquake reduced the historic Dharahara Tower to rubble, leaving what was once built for royalty in utter ruin.

The 200-foot, nine-story Dharahara Tower, also known as the Bhimsen Tower, was built by then-prime minister Bhimsen Thapa in 1832 for his niece, Queen Lalit Tripura Sundari.

The tower was a Unesco World Heritage site.

A jagged stump 10 metres high was all that was left of the lighthouse-like structure.

Authorities said around 200 people were inside the Dharahara Tower when the earthquake caused it to collapse, according to Reuters. Recovery efforts are continuing as officials search for bodies still trapped under rubble.

Parts of a Durbar Square, also a Unesco World Heritage site, were completely destroyed, with US media reports saying that at least 12 bodies had been pulled from the rubble.

Much of the square dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, although extensive renovations took place after a devastating earthquake in 1934.

Unesco director general, Irina Bokova, said the the body were ready to help with reconstruction of the sites. A Facebook statement said: “I wish to express my sincere condolences following the powerful earthquake that struck Nepal today, causing heavy loss of life and extensive damage, including to historic monuments and buildings of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage site.

“Unesco stands ready to help Nepal reconstruct and strengthen its resilience, based on our strong partnership and shared conviction in the power of education, science and culture to empower people, to heal and restore confidence.”

A traveler in Katmandu posted this image of Durbar Square to his Instagram account following the quake:

After the first quake. This is what’s left of Durbar Square. I felt it as I was changing rooms in my hotel, looking out from a balcony on the 4th floor. Cleaners went from laughing to running when they realized how serious it was, and I followed suit. My legs were shaking so bad I couldn’t tell if it was me or an aftershock. It’s been a long day.

A photo posted by lobotreads (@lobotreads) on Apr 25, 2015 at 7:41am PDT

The Swayambhunath Temple complex, known as the ‘Monkey Temple’ is also among the historic buildings damaged, with smaller temples and shops in the area completely levelled.

The iconic stupa was relatively lucky as it continued to stand tall in the aftermath of the earthquake.

The earthquake is Nepal’s worst since a magnitude-8.3 quake struck the impoverished Himalayan nation 81 years ago, killing over 8,500 people.