Nepal's iconic 'Bhimsen Tower' collapses in powerful earthquake; industry insiders: Ancient city tourist area devastated

▲ Bhimsen Tower (Dharahara Tower) in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is an iconic landmark and tourist tower. (Photo provided by Liu Shiming, please do not reproduce without permission)

Reporter Chen Ziying / Comprehensive report

A powerful 7.9-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in the early hours of today (25th), shocking the international community. According to Reuters, citing Nepalese police, the death toll from the quake continues to rise, with 449 confirmed fatalities so far, most of them in the capital, Kathmandu. The earthquake also caused the collapse of the nearly 200-year-old famous ancient tower "Bhimsen Tower (Dharahara Tower)" in Kathmandu, leaving at least 50 people trapped under the rubble.


▲ Bhimsen Tower collapsed instantly under the force of the earthquake. (Photo taken from Twitter)

According to the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation, major travel agencies have reported that no Taiwanese tour groups are currently in the area. Chen Chen-cheng, general manager of high-end travel agency Style High, which has been deeply involved in South Asia for many years, said that in the past year, there have been relatively few Taiwanese tourists traveling to Nepal, and for Taiwanese people, Nepal is not actually a top travel destination, so the number of planned tours is also relatively low. Earthquakes are common in Nepal, but this time the capital, Kathmandu, bore the brunt, with the most severe damage occurring in the important ancient city tourist area. Future tour groups will definitely be affected, but the duration and specifics of the impact will need to be confirmed after official information is released and after contacting local travel industry operators.

Liu Siling, a popular travel blogger who visited Bhimsen Tower just last year, said the tower was a popular tourist attraction and also loved by many locals. When he visited, both the tower area and the nearby streets were very lively. He expressed deep shock and sadness upon hearing about the tower’s collapse. In addition to hoping that all world cultural heritage sites can be properly maintained, he also prays for a miracle to happen in Nepal.


▲ The area around Bhimsen Tower is a bustling tourist district. (Photo provided by Liu Shiming, please do not reproduce without permission)