Hundreds are feared dead following the collapse of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal after last week’s earthquake, which claimed thousands of lives across the country.

The massive quake, which has left more than 3,700 dead – injuring a further 6,500 people and counting – has taken a massive human and cultural toll on Nepal.

The Dharahara Tower, a military watchtower first built in the 19th century to honour a queen, was destroyed in 1833 and 1934 by earthquakes. The latest incarnation of the tower, which was popular with visiting tourists, collapsed in the 7.8 magnitude quake, which struck on 25 April. Reports indicate as many as 200 people were inside the tower, with bodies still being pulled out of the rubble on-site.

“That is instant disaster on a large scale and you can’t exaggerate it,” said Jack Ives, a geographer working in Nepal, speaking to the National Post. “The damage to that World Heritage architecture is an appalling loss and we can’t measure the impact until we get more details. “Reconstruction has been very effective (after past quakes), but that doesn’t say anything about the appalling loss of life.”

The quake has also caused devastation to Kathmandu’s seven World Heritage sites, as well as the Boudhanath Buddhist shrine, which was largely destroyed.

Speaking to reporters, Christian Manhart, UNESCO’s representative to Nepal, said the body was “assessing the situation and collecting information on what the damage is.” He added that it is currently unclear whether all of these ancient monuments can, or will, be rebuilt.