China quake: the town of Yingxiu in Sichuan province,wiped off the face of the earth...

Once it was a thriving little town nestling in one of the most picturesque parts of China.

Now it is the scene of death and utter devastation.

This is Yingxiu in Sichuan province, a town at the epicentre of the massive earthquake which rocked China last Monday.

Government officials say 8,000 of the 10,000 people who lived here have died, most of them crushed as half of the town's buildings fell in on them. Most of those buildings that have not collapsed now teeter at frightening angles, as though ready to tumble too. More...

See also: China's earthquake: where are the children?
And this: China earthquake: once again, why did so many schools collapse...