Siobhan Heanue's Blogs
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Dispatches From Kathmandu
In the capital Kathmandu, old temples — many World Heritage-listed and some dating back to the Middle Ages — have been destroyed or damaged. The three Royal Squares, Patan Bhaktapur and Kathmandu Durbar Squares, suffered significant damage. In Patan, several temples collapsed, sending thousands of people running for their lives. The square was packed with tourists and locals out enjoying a Saturday afternoon relaxing on temple stoops and wandering through the historic buildings. The built-up surrounds of the square left people with few options for safe harbour when the quake hit. People screamed in terror as the shaking intensified and historic buildings crumbled. The earthquake, measuring 7.9 in magnitude, lasted for over a minute and was followed by several strong aftershocks. Locals rushed to clear piles of rubble, searching for survivors with their bare hands, picks and shovels, amid a minimal police presence. The rescuers...
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