BAGAN — Myanmar took stock of toppled spires and crumbling temple walls in the ancient capital of Bagan on Thursday, after a powerful earthquake hit the country, killing three and damaging the top tourist destination.Two young girls and a man died in Magway region where the 6.8 magnitude quake struck on Wednesday evening, cracking buildings across the centre of the country and sending tremors that were felt as far away as Bangkok and Kolkata.In nearby Bagan, home to a vast plain of some 2,500 Buddhist monuments that are among Myanmar’s most venerated religious sites, teams of engineers and architects dispatched by government surveyed damage to nearly 200 of the prized pagodas."First we need to figure out the extent of the damage," Arkar Kyaw, the deputy director of Myanmar’s culture ministry said. "Then we will make a renovation plan," he told AFP, adding that the government is working directly with UNESCO.First estimates showed that at least 185 pagodas at Bagan were damaged, as se...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.