After the Quake

After nearly 70,000 confirmed deaths and five million people left homeless (as of May 29th), the Sichuan Earthquake of 2008 continues to cause hardship across the region. More than 30 "quake Lakes", formed by landslides have flooded many areas, relief and supplies are still needed and the cleanup continues. (13 photos total)

A couple reacts immediately after an earthquake struck during their wedding photo shoot at a deserted catholic seminary in Pengzhou in southwest China's Sichuan province Monday May 12, 2008. Five couples were having wedding photos taken when the earthquake struck, and all escaped without injury. The century-old seminary was destroyed in the quake, which left tens of thousands dead in Sichuan. (AP Photo)

Soldiers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) set up a makeshift bridge for refugees to evacuate Pingwu county of Mianyang, Sichuan province May 28, 2008. (REUTERS/China Daily CHINA).

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, the Tangjiashan quake lake formed by the landslide following the May 12 earthquake near Beichuan County is seen on Monday, May 26, 2008. Chinese officials rushed Tuesday to evacuate another 80,000 people in the path of potential floodwaters building up behind a quake-spawned dam as soldiers carved a channel to try to drain away the threat. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhu Wei)

Buildings are partially submerged at a village in Anshun, Guizhou province May 27, 2008. Floods triggered by rain and hail storms in southern China have killed at least 20 people and left 16 missing, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday, citing local authorities. (REUTERS/China Daily CHINA).

A worker walks inside the dining area of a newly built shelter at a site housing earthquake survivors in Dujiangyan, west of Chengdu, Sichuan province, May 24, 2008. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

A woman carries vegetables into her collapsed house, caused by last week's earthquake, in the village of Si Wen Jai in Sichuan province, May 23, 2008. REUTERS/Nir Elias (CHINA)

Earthquake survivors row rafts to transport baggage on the 'quake lake' at the Majingxiang Hydropower Station May 24, 2008 in Anxian County of Sichuan Province, China. Majingxiang 'quake lake' is the second largest quake lakes formed in the Sichuan earthquake by landslides that blocked rivers. The lake is over 40 meters (131 feet) deep with water rising at 2.5 meters per day. The upcoming rainy days will add to the risk of the lakes. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

An aerial view of tents housing displaced earthquake survivors in Sichuan province May 24, 2008. REUTERS/UN Photo/Evan Schneider/Handout (CHINA).

A quake survivor stands amid the rubble in Hanwang on May 25, 2008 in southwest China's quake-stricken Sichuan province. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

Relief materials are dropped over the earthquake-hit Qingchuan County, Sichuan province May 24, 2008. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA).

A woman mourns for her child who died in the May 12 earthquake, in the debris of the collapsed Juyuan Middle School in Dujiangyan, in southwest China's Sichuan province, Tuesday, May 27, 2008. (AP Photo/Color China Photo)

Relief workers try to remove bleaching powder and disinfectant while caustic smoke billows in a chemical reaction near a refugee camp in earthquake-hit Leigu Town of Beichuan County, Sichuan province May 29, 2008. The relief goods, including more than 10 tons of bleaching powder and disinfectant, reacted after being soaked by overnight rains, producing caustic smoke, a witness said. REUTERS/Bo Bor (CHINA)

A woman crosses a damaged bridge following May 12 earthquake in Hanwang town in China's southwest Sichuan province Wednesday, May 28, 2008. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

More information and articles:
New York Times Sichuan Earthquake topic page
2008 Sichuan earthquake Wikipedia Entry

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Incredible. Seeing high quality images of this at this scale really brings it home.

Posted by rwanderman June 6, 08 08:32 AM

True. These photos are great at providing more meaning into these tragic events.

Posted by germanboy June 7, 08 02:38 AM

It's easy to disagree with china's policies and toss around the idea of boycotting the olympics but these photos are an impossible to ignore reminder that thousands of people are caught in the middle of a terrible tragedy.

Posted by Tom Neely June 9, 08 11:43 AM

Right on Tom.

It becomes easy to dehumanise people by disagreeing with their national policy.

Amazing photos. Best wishes for the clearing of those quake lakes and the eventual reconstruction of these people's lives.

Posted by Nige June 9, 08 09:11 PM

Thanks for let us know this way !
Amazing job !

My comment is regarding the entire Big Picture section.

Posted by Xoa June 10, 08 08:00 AM

"It becomes easy to dehumanise people by disagreeing with their national policy."

My god, Nige, that was one of the most beautiful comments I've ever heard. I know it seems so simple, but so many people aren't thinking like that.

And yea, these photos are brilliant. That poor mother, suffering from the loss of her child. I just watched a son get buried yesterday. That must be ridiculously painful. I only hope she, the family of the kid being put into the ground yesterday, and others who have lost loved ones, can find a way to heal over time.

Posted by Cello June 10, 08 01:43 PM

picture can say a thousand words!!

may all departed souls rest in peace

Posted by sriram June 12, 08 08:01 AM

this is terr

Posted by Anonymous June 25, 08 10:23 PM

I feel sympathetic for all these losses. Hoping those victims are getting well now...

Posted by 1 July 31, 08 01:13 AM

I buy equipment with a contract from the US Army. We pay pennies on the dollar and can pass savings along. We are not in a position to donate it however. Does anyonee know what is needed here or who I might contact to help.

Posted by ken baxter October 6, 08 07:06 AM

Rest in peace all who have suffered.

Posted by Kashni Soobiah January 7, 09 07:23 AM

I feel sorry

Posted by Anonymous January 10, 09 05:18 AM

Amazing. A perfect example of "How it used to be" but, with it being scattered.
That' s what it actually is!
I wonder if it'll ever be fixed!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Maybe in 2020

Posted by Xang Chung-Ho (actually Iambachlover) January 28, 09 01:25 PM