THE Department of Archaeology and National Museum reported that the Mandalay earthquake damaged 75 per cent of the historical heritage structures within the Inwa Ancient Cultural Heritage Zone.

The earthquake caused the collapse of several pagodas, including double-structure pagodas at the following locations: Pagoda No 93 near Thawtapan Pagoda; Pagodas No 316 and 318 in the Daw Gyam Pagoda compound; Pagoda No 21 Kyeyni Mu Htaw; one near Ko San Ngwe farm, close to Mya Thein Tan Pagoda; two near U Tun Naing farm, behind Mingalar Ward; Shin Pin Khayaythi; Anauk Yeiktha compound; at Paleik Phayasu Inyoung Pagoda compound, Kyaukse Township; Tawtwin, Kyaukse Township; and the Phayani temple, Mandalay. In total, 13 pagodas collapsed.

Additionally, the earthquake damaged four triple-structure cave pagodas, located one in Pinya, three in Myitnge, and one in Sato Myopyingyi.

While many pagodas, temples, and brick temples were previously documented in the Inwa Archaeological Zone, eyewitness accounts confirmed the absence of double-structure pagodas. These double-structure pagodas were only discovered following the Mandalay earthquake.

ASH/MKKS

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