How many Bagan Temples destroyed by the Earthquake ?

According Wikipedia, Bagan: located in an active earthquake zone, had suffered from many earthquakes over the ages, with over 400 recorded earthquakes between 1904 and 1971. A major earthquake occurred on 8 July 1975, reaching 8 MM  in Bagan and Myinkaba. The quake damaged many temples, in many cases severely and irreparably.

After the 2025, 28 March Earthquake it is not clear how wide has been the damage to historic heritage in Myanmar, where the 7.7 M event that killed scores of people had its epicentre near Bagan, the ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. Capital of the Pagan Kingdom from the 9th to 13th centuries, between the 11th and 13th centuries, saw more than 10,000 Buddhist temples and other buildings. At the moment of the earthquake, over 2.200 temples and pagodas had survived.

Bagan: Buddhist temples in danger after March 2025 earthquake

Bagan is once again in the spotlight following the earthquake that struck the country in March 2025. The main concern is the potential damage to this invaluable cultural heritage, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2019.

Situated in an area of ​​high seismic activity, close to the Sagaing Fault, Bagan has a long history of vulnerability to earthquakes. The previous earthquake in 2016 had already caused considerable damage to key monuments. It is currently unclear whether the March 2025 earthquake caused similar damage.

The stupas and temples of Bagan, built on the banks of the Irrawaddy River by the first unified Burmese dynasty, represent one of the world’s greatest Buddhist civilisations. The city, founded by Anawrahta Minsaw around 1044, saw the construction of over 10,000 religious shrines, many of them intricately detailed and have withstood earthquakes and questionable restoration.

Bagan’s cultural significance extends beyond its historical and architectural importance. As Professor Ashley Thompson, an expert in Southeast Asian art at SOAS, has pointed out, for people who have suffered prolonged political violence, the remnants of Bagan’s past prosperity can provide hope, even if its Buddhist imperial symbolism can sometimes be exploited. The site is also home to the Myazedi Inscription Museum, a stele from 1113 considered the “Burmese Rosetta Stone” for its inscriptions in four ancient languages, including the oldest known form of Burmese.

The potential cultural loss Bagan faces again may seem secondary to the tragic loss of life caused by the earthquake, but it will have a lasting impact on a country where many people are struggling to survive.

Despite the decline in foreign tourism over the past two decades, Bagan remains a site of immense importance to the local population. The scientific community and the world are now looking with apprehension at future developments, in the hope that damage to Bagan’s precious cultural heritage will be limited and that effective action can be taken for its conservation.