Images

Small tent cities, like this one in Guyuan, were erected after the 12 May 2008 earthquake.

These tent structures served as temporary homes in Guyuan after the 12 May 2008 earthquake.

In Guyuan, an outdoor bathroom was created for those who stayed in tents because their homes were too dangerous.

Some families in Guyuan had to fashion tents out of whatever materials were on hand to avoid staying in their damaged homes after the 12 May 2008 earthquake.

Volcanic-gas plume rises from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai‘i

A plume of volcanic gases (chiefly water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide), tiny lava and rock particles, and droplets drifts southwest in the tradewinds from Halema‘uma‘u Crater.

A sign from a rural home owner giving thanks to fire fighters who battled the Little Wolf fire that burned 15,000 acres in Western Montana in 1994. Wildfires continue to burn thousands of acres of forests and grassland along with homes each year across the nation.

Photograph of the Old Faithful Geyser erupting in Yellowstone Nationl Park. Old Faithful was named in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Yellowstone expedition and was the first geyser in the Park to be named.

May 2, 2008, Chaitén volcano in Chile erupted with an ash column that rose to about 17 km (10 mi) and lasted for 6 hours. Activity continued into 2009, including this ash emission on May 27, 2008.

An apartment building's damaged staircase seen from the outside.

Partially collapsed residential building in Pengzhou.

Collapsed brick wall alongside a Pengzhou street.

Man standing in front of collapsed home in Pengzhou.

Collapsed brick garages in Pengzhou.

Long crack stretching over facade of apartment building in Pengzhou.

View of Chaitén lava dome looking north, on May 26, 2008. Note simultaneous explosion and effusion of new lava on left-central side of dome. Caldera is about 3 km wide.

Collapsed garage roof in Pengzhou.

Damaged residential building in Pengzhou.

All visible streets and the nearby airport were buried in 3 to 6 feet of mud, and the city harbor was destroyed.

Partially collapsed residential building in Mianyang.

Extensive damage in residential area in Mianyang.