Before & After Pictures Of The Nepal Earthquake

As previously reported, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc on Nepal early on Saturday. The earthquake, which centered less than 50 miles from Kathmandu, has left a death toll of over 1,000 people (and counting) in its wake, and a number of historical buildings have been reduced to rubble. Devastating before and after pictures of the Nepal earthquake demonstrate the heart-wrenching destruction caused by the earthquake. (Update: The death toll has now risen to over 3,800, and more than 6,000 people are thought to be injured.)

The earthquake was the start of a devastating chain of events, as the it triggered a series of 14 aftershocks, as well as an avalanche on Mount Everest that ultimately killed eight climbers.

The death toll continues to climb as rescue teams work their way through the wreckage and debris. The post-earthquake pictures of Nepal are harrowing enough on their own, but the shocking state of destruction is even more pronounced when pictures from the aftermath are compared to what those sites of destruction looked like before the earthquake.

It is clear that the Nepalese will suffer immense losses from this deadly earthquake and the images serve to remind us of the shocking fragility of life. The before and after pictures of the Nepal earthquake also act as a reminder to people worldwide that Nepal, more than ever, needs all the help, hope, and prayers that we can give them.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square, one of the three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, was a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but now lies in ruin.

Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square, situated at the center of Lalitpur city, was also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The before and after photos capture the magnitude of the destruction that ravaged these important and historic sites.

Dharahara Tower

The Dharahara Tower was a nine-story tower at the center of Sundhara in Kathmandu. The tower, originally built in 1832, collapsed entirely, except for its base, during Saturday's earthquake.

Patan Durbar's Bhupatindra Malla Statue

The remnants of a statue in Patan Durbar Square.

Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bhaktapur, Nepal, is one of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley, along with Kathmandu and Patan. Bhaktapur was hit hard by the vicious earthquake.