Myanmar earthquake devastates cultural heritage sites

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, has caused significant damage to the country's cultural heritage. Nearly 3,000 deaths and over 4,500 injuries have been confirmed, with hundreds still missing. The World Monuments Fund is assessing damage to religious buildings and cultural sites, some already affected by the ongoing civil war. In Mandalay, the Shwe Sar Yan pagoda tower collapsed, along with parts of the Mandalay Palace, the Si Shay palace portal, and the 1934 Ava Bridge. Over 20 monastic complexes in the city have been destroyed, including Me Nu Brick and New Masoeyein monasteries, and the Mahamuni pagoda where a revered Buddha statue was destroyed. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Bagan, with its 3,595 monuments, suffered damage in the 2016 earthquake and now faces further harm. The other UNESCO site, the Ancient Cities of Pyu, also requires assessment. In Naypyitaw, the capital, pagodas were damaged and the National Museum of Myanmar was affected. In neighboring Thailand, the Wat Pho temple in Bangkok reported damage to its Reclining Buddha statue.