On the Historical and Cultural Ramifications of Nepal's Earthquake

As you all by now have most probably heard, on April 25th last Saturday, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the nation of Nepal, claiming over 5,000 lives. Much of the country is devastated by the aftermath, and while rescue efforts are being conducted and foreign aid is beginning to trickle in, the local Nepalese authorities are not prepared logistically or financially for such an event and they are currently, in the words of Nepalese prime minister Sushil Koirala, "overwhelmed."
While this in itself more than warrants the labelling of disaster, there is another factor to consider: the cultural and historical damage. Many of Nepal's historical buildings and architecture, most of which are hundreds of years old, lie now in rubble.

Kathmandu's Durbar square, home to many historically significant religious sites. The square itself is one of 7 UNESCO world heritage sites in Nepal, and was built between the 12th and 18th centuries. The image above shows the significant damage inflicted by the earthquake, with one tower being completely leveled to the ground. 

Another historical landmark, the Dharahara tower, which boasted panoramic views of Kathmandu, was also reduced to rubble by the earthquake. The original tower was built in 1832, but was severely damaged in an earthquake in 1834 before being completely destroyed 100 years later in 1934, after which it was rebuilt.

The destruction of these buildings in itself warrants a disaster. Much like the desecration of ancient sites in Iraq and Syria at the hands of ISIS, the damage done to the historical and cultural memory of mankind cannot be undone. Many of these historic sites were one of a kind in their style and construction, and their destruction exacts a toll on everyone, in such a way that is completely different but arguably equally as bad as the human casualty count.