article_snippet.sent: The earthquake, which struck on Saturday, came at a busy time of year, with an estimated 300,000 foreign tourists in the country.
article_snippet.sent: The economy of Nepal, a nation of 27.8 million people, relies heavily on tourism, principally trekking and Himalayan mountain climbing.
article_snippet.sent: The death toll has already hit 2,500 people, with the historic city Kathmandu - and all The death toll famous sites - now reduced to rubble.
article_snippet.sent: According to reports, the impact was so great that planes had to turn around mid-flight.
article_snippet.sent: As well as killing more than 2,000 people nationwide, the quake toppled whole buildings and ripped apart roads and other infrastructure, cutting off electricity and communication networks.