Bagan Heritage Sites Sustain Minor Damage in Myanmar Earthquake; Restoration Efforts Promptly Underway
Bagan, The Gulf Observer: The earthquake that struck Myanmar on 28 March caused widespread damage across the country, including to cultural heritage sites in Bagan, a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Zone. Fortunately, officials confirmed that the ancient temples, pagodas, and stupas in the area sustained only minor structural damage, with no major collapses reported.
According to U Kyi Lin, Assistant Director of the Bagan Archaeological Department, the quake caused some dust and debris to fall from brick surfaces, along with small cracks in outer walls, but the inner structures of the historic monuments remain intact and structurally sound.
“When the earthquake hit Bagan, it caused damage only to bricks. There is no collapse,” he stated. “We immediately conducted an on-ground study in groups. Although the current earthquake lasted long, there were only minor incidents.”
The Shwezigon and Htilominlo pagodas, among Bagan’s most iconic landmarks, were shaken but not destroyed. Some mural paintings from three prominent pagodas were affected, prompting the department to invite donors to support their conservation.
The department’s prompt response follows long-standing collaboration with UNESCO, which began after the 2016 earthquake that previously affected Bagan. Since then, preventive strategies and structural assessments have been carried out, particularly concerning mural conservation and reinforcement of key architectural features.
“Since 2012, we have been working with UNESCO on how to conserve the mural paintings, what should be prioritized, and how to implement preventive measures in case of an earthquake,” U Kyi Lin added.
While some terraces, facades, and surrounding stupas were not fully reinforced following the 2016 quake, the recent seismic event caused no significant deterioration to those structures.
The 43rd UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Baku, Azerbaijan on 6 July 2019, officially designated Bagan’s ancient cultural zone as a World Heritage Site, highlighting its international importance.
Globally, Italy and China each have 53 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, followed by Spain (47), France and Germany (44 each), and India (37). In Southeast Asia, UNESCO permits each country to maintain recognition for up to 15 heritage sites, making the preservation of Bagan critical for Myanmar’s cultural legacy and regional heritage standing.
