The 20 photographs of the week

The most compelling photojournalism of the week came from the capsized ferry in South Korea, the continuing crisis in Ukraine and Holy Week from around the world. Here, South Korean relatives wait for missing people at a harbour in Jindo as rescue teams raced to find up to 293 people missing from the ferry Photograph: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP

The South Korean ferry 'Sewol' is seen sinking as flares are set off to aid the night search Photograph: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

A devastating fire in Valparaiso, Chile, consumed more than 500 houses Photograph: Alberto Miranda/AFP

Residents are photographed through a window as they survey the damage after their homes were burned down in Valparaiso. At least 11 people were killed by the forest fire Photograph: Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters

In Aleppo, a Syrian man surveys the damage caused by barrel bombs reportedly dropped from the helicopters of the Syrian army Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty

Oscar Pistorius rubs his eyes in court in Pretoria, South Africa, after earlier questioning by state prosecutor Gerrie Nel. Pistorius is charged with the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/AP

Photographer David Guttenfelder continued his strong reportage on daily life in North Korea this week. Here, spectators watch the start of the Mangyongdae Prize International Marathon at the Kim Il Sung Stadium in Pyongyang Photograph: David Guttenfelder/AP

Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's second goal five minutes from the end of the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia. Real won 2-1 to claim the trophy Photograph: Dani Pozo/AFP

In Zamora, Spain, penitents from the 'Cristo de la Buena Muerte' or the Christ of the Good Death brotherhood take part in a procession during the Easter Holy Week Photograph: Andres Kudacki/AP

In another photograph by Andres Kudacki in Zamora, children play as a penitent watches a march from the 'Jesus en su Tercera Ca da' brotherhood Photograph: Andres Kudacki/AP

Kevin, a man accused of being a thief by civil servants at the Work Inspection office, lies in pain after being attacked by a man with a machete in Bangui, Central African Republic. Foreign journalists intervened and stopped the beating, as the crowd shouted 'he is a thief, he must die'. Police arrived and took Kevin into custody. He was then taken to a local hospital for treatment under police surveillance before being brought before a prosecuting officer Photograph: Jerome Delay/AP

A world war two veteran sits at a table during a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Simferopol, Crimea, from German troops Photograph: Andrew Lubimov/AP

Masked pro-Russia protesters wait in a queue for food inside a regional government building in Donetsk Photograph: Marko Djurica/Reuters

Manu Brabo, a regular contributor to this gallery, was also covering the crisis in Ukraine. Here he photographed an embrace between a Ukrainian soldier and his pro-Russian friend on their way to the town of Kramatorsk Photograph: Manu Brabo/AP

Indian women wait to vote at a polling station in Rajasthan, India. India is in the midst of a nine-phase election that began on 7 April and ends on 12 May Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty

A vet from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme conducts medical examinations on a 14-year-old male orangutan found with air gun pellets embedded in his body Photograph: Sutanta Aditya/AFP

A gaucho rides a wild horse during Criolla Week in Montevideo, Uruguay Photograph: Andres Stapff/Reuters

Beachgoers exercise on swings, rings and climbing ropes in the late afternoon sunshine at Santa Monica in Los Angeles, California Photograph: Felix Clay/Guardian

And finally two images from Royan in Iran, which show a killer being spared execution by the mother of his victim. Here, Balal, who killed Abdolah Hosseinzadeh with a knife in a street fight in 2007, is brought to the gallows for his execution Photograph: Arash Khamooshi/AFP

The mother of Abdolah Hosseinzadeh slaps Balal before removing the noose around his neck with the help of her husband, and so sparing the life of her son's convicted murderer Photograph: Arash Khamooshi/AFP