Earthquake damages Buddhist temples

New Civil Engineer, 23 September, 2009

Yangon, Myanmar -- Ancient Buddhist temples suffered damage after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled parts of the north-western Myanmar.

According to an official from Myanmar’s Meteorological Department, the moderate earthquake occurred just after 2am local time.

The epicentre of the quake was about 260 miles north-west of Yangon, the commercial capital of the country. However, there were no reports of casualties after the quake.

Residents in the area said that two ancient Buddhist temples in Ohn Pwetaw village and a pagoda in Yay Nan Chaung were damaged in the earthquake. The structures, believed to have been built in the 11th century, were known for their colourful frescoes.

The quake was felt in several towns in the north-western Magway Division, none of which are densely populated or have high-rise buildings, the official added.
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