5 Times in 2017 That Nature Outmatched Humans - 1
Published 22 Dec 2017, 15:07 GMT
Photographer and mountain guide David Morton was visiting the rural Sherpa village of Thame in eastern Nepal when the earthquake struck on Saturday. Over the next few days, Morton documented destruction in Thame and other villages in the Khumbu Valley, even as the aftershocks kept coming. Above, villagers try to salvage what they can from a home that was badly damaged by the earthquake.
Photograph by David MortonMingma Phuti Sherpa and her son Lhakpa Tenzing take in the damage of their home in Thame just hours after the earthquake. Villagers expect to stay where they are and “have nowhere to evacuate to,” Morton says.
Photograph by David MortonPem Phurti Sherpa rests in front of her damaged home as her granddaughter peers through their temporary shelter. Morton says the family may have to tear its house down and rebuild from scratch.
Photograph by David MortonA family retrieves valuables from their wrecked Gomba room, or prayer room. Such cleanup efforts began right after the quake, Morton says.
Photograph by David MortonThame and surrounding villages still have a clean, plentiful water supply thanks to local rivers. Here, Nawang Tundup Sherpa retrieves a “sa,” or traditional water container, from his damaged home.
Photograph by David MortonKami Rita Sherpa and Ang Chottar Sherpa (right) cremate the remains of Pasang Diki Sherpa who died in the quake. She was the sister of Ang Chottar.
Photograph be David MortonElders perform a cremation ceremony for Pasang Diki Sherpa, a woman who died in her home in Yelajung, close to Thame.
Photograph by David MortonAfter her home was destroyed, Kami Tshering Sherpa set up a makeshift kitchen. “The people aren’t waiting for aid or government help, they are banding together and starting to put the pieces back together,” says Morton.
Photograph by David MortonAng Phutti Sherpa and her grandson Lhakpa Nuru Sherpa suffered head wounds, cuts, and bruises after their house collapsed on top of them.
Photograph by David MortonThe center of Thame is littered with debris.
Photograph by David Morton