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2011, General News , 2nd prize singles , Guang Niu
Photo information
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Tibetan monks prepare for the mass cremation of earthquake victims on a mountaintop in Yushu county, Qinghai province, in China.

17 April 2010

Tibetanische Mönche bereiten in Yushu, Provinz Quinghai, China, auf einem Berg eine Massenfeuerbestattung von Erdbebenopfern vor. Ein Erdbeben der Stärke 6,9 erschütterte die Provinz am 14. April und tötete 2.600 Menschen. Etwa 12.000 Menschen wurden verletzt. Tibetaner bevorzugen eine „Himmelsbestattung“, wobei die Leichen den Geiern überlassen werden, aber die große Anzahl der Toten zwang die Mönche diesmal dazu, auf diese Tradition zu verzichten.

Golmud, Qinghai, China

Tibetan monks prepare for the mass cremation of earthquake victims on a mountaintop in Yushu county, Qinghai province, in China. A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the province on 14 April, killing over 2,600 people and injuring some 12,000 more. Tibetans usually practice sky burial, leaving corpses out for vultures, but the sheer numbers of dead in this case forced the monks to abandon tradition.

Photo credit:
for Getty Images

Los monjes tibetanos preparan una incineración masiva de las víctimas del terremoto en la cima de un monte en el condado de Yushu, en la provincia de Qinghai (China). Un seísmo de 6,9 grados de magnitud sacudió la provincia el 14 de abril de 2010 matando a 2.600 personas e hiriendo a otras 12.000. Los tibetanos suelen practicar el «funeral celeste», dejando los cuerpos a la intemperie para que se los coman los buitres, pero el gran número de muertos en este caso obligó a los monjes a abandonar su tradición.

Moines tibétains préparant les funérailles des victimes d’un séisme, sur un sommet du comté de Yushu, dans la province chinoise de Qinghai, frappée le 14 avril par une secousse d’une magnitude de 6,9, qui a fait plus de 2 600 morts et près de 12 000 blessés. Les Tibétains pratiquent traditionnellement le rite des funérailles célestes, abandonnant les corps aux vautours. Mais le grand nombre de morts a conduit à l’abandon de cette tradition.

Monaci tibetani preparano una cremazione di massa su una montagna nella contea di Yushu, nella provincia di Qinghai, Cina. Il 14 aprile un sisma di magnitudo 6,9 ha colpito la provincia provocando oltre 2.600 morti e circa 12.000 feriti. Solitamente i tibetani celebrano il “funerale del cielo”, lasciando i cadaveri all’aperto per gli avvoltoi, ma l’ingente numero di decessi in questo caso ha costretto i monaci ad abbandonare la tradizione.

Tibetaanse monniken bereiden de crematie voor van aardbevingsslachtoffers voor op een bergtop in het district Yushu in de Chinese provincie Qinghai. De beving met de kracht van 6,9 trof de provincie op 14 april. Er vielen ruim 2.600 doden en 12.000 gewonden. Tibet kent het gebruik van de ‘hemelbegrafenis’, waarbij lijken aan gieren worden overgelaten. Door het grote aantal doden moesten de monniken nu echter afzien van deze traditie.

Location

Golmud, Qinghai, China

Technical information

Shutter speed: 1/800 s
ISO: 200
F-Stop: f/5.6
Focal Length: 16 mm
Canon EOS 1D Mark III
Camera: Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Guang Niu

Guang Niu
Nationality:
China
Website:
weibo.com/guangniu
About:
Guang Niu was born in Beijing, China in 1963, and holds Canadian nationality. He studied at the Beijing TV and Broadcasting School, and began his professional career as a photographer with The Associated Press in Beijing in 1997. In 2000, he moved as a staff photographer to Reuters and from 2004 to Getty Images, both in the Chinese capital. Since 2009, Guang Niu has been working freelance.
Read more about this photographer

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  • Beijing Sights by Guang Niu in National Geographic

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