Glimmers of hope among Nepal earthquake debris

As hopes of finding survivors began to fade, there were scenes of celebration in Kathmandu on Thursday. After hours of dangerous work by rescuers, 15-year-old Pemba Tamang was pulled out from beneath the rubble of Kathmandu's collapsed Hilton hotel, five days after the earthquake struck in Nepal's capital.

Members of the Nepalese Armed Police Force carried their officer in celebration after successfully rescuing the teenage earthquake survivor. Police officer L. B. Basnet had pulled the boy out of the debris after crawling into an opening wearing a headlamp. "He thanked me when I first approached him ... He was really responsive," Basnet said.

Efforts to take aid to the worst-hit areas in Nepal's countryside have been hindered, however, by torrential rain. Even helicopters have been left unable to access the remote regions. Relief teams have warned that it could take as long as five days to reach those still in need.

Like thousands of others, the Gautam family from Lagan, Kathmandu, have been moved to a relief camp. Their entire neighborhood was struck by the natural disaster. The United Nations estimates that over 5,000 people have died and some 8 million have been affected by what was Nepal's worst quake in 81 years.

Nepal's government has come under fire for the speed at which aid is reaching those affected. Government officials have admitted that they have failed "to meet the expectations of the needy people." Protests broke out near government buildings in the capital after the government failed to provide enough buses to transport families back to their villages.

The death toll currently stands at over 5,000. More than 10,000 people are known to have been injured. The epicenter of the 7.8-magnitude quake was about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Kathmandu and occurred at a shallow depth - worsening the impact. At least 30 of the country's 75 districts were affected, with initial estimates pegging that economic damage at billions of dollars.

The Kathmandu Valley was shattered by the 7.8-magnitude quake. The cultural and spiritual heart of Nepal was home to seven UNESCO World Heritage sites. Among them was the Buddhist monastery and shrines of Swayambhunath Stupa, pictured above.

Nepal's Tourism Ministry announced that climbing on Mount Everest will reopen as early as next week. An avalanche caused by the earthquake on Saturday killed 18 climbers and Sherpa mountain guides and injured more than 60. Neighboring China, however, has announced that it has closed the climbing season for the north face of Everest and all other mountains in Tibet.