Mrauk-U’s ancient heritage among victims of Cyclone Mocha

By Admin 21 May 2023

DMG Newsroom
21 May 2023, Mrauk-U

Some ancient temples, pagodas, fortifications and other buildings Mrauk-U, Arakan State, were damaged last week by Cyclone Mocha, which made landfall with destructive force on May 14.

“Temples and pagodas built in ancient times have not been destroyed by the storm,” said Daw Khin Than, chairwoman of the Mrauk-U Cultural Heritage Conservation Association. “Some of the newly renovated ancient buildings and walls were damaged by the storm. Some roofs at the Koe Thaung Pagoda were badly damaged by the storm.”

The storm caused damage to some homes in the town of Mrauk-U, and over 18,000 homes were reportedly damaged or destroyed across 115 villages in Mrauk-U Township. Trees also took a beating, including some that were within the compounds of ancient pagodas.

“The stupas in the precinct of the Koe Thaung Pagoda have been damaged by people from the past. The newly renovated stupas were slightly damaged by the wind storm. I feel sad because the trees that provided shade in front of the pagoda fell due to the storm,” said U Maung Nyunt, chairman of the pagoda’s board of trustees.

The Department of Archeology and National Museum is taking inventory of the damage to ancient buildings in Mrauk-U due to the storm.

A total of 145 people have been confirmed dead, thousands of cattle were killed and hundreds of thousands of homes in Arakan State were damaged or destroyed by the cyclonic storm, the regime said in a statement on May 18.

Caption: Ancient pagodas in Mrauk-U seen in the aftermath of Cyclone Mocha.