Stupa collapses in Mrauk-U

18 Jul 2019

Soe Aung | DMG

18 July, Mrauk-U

A small stupa belonging to Myadasaung pagoda in Mrauk-U ancient city, Arakan State, collapsed on 13 July, according to the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library in Mrauk-U.

The Pagoda is located in Kyet Zay ward in Mrauk-U town, the small stupa was hit by an artillery shell during a previous attack in Mrauk-U. The stupa developed a crack and after rainwater had seeped into it the stupa collapsed.

“The reasons the small stupa collapsed are because it got cracked from gunfire and that the crack filled up with rainwater making the stupa unstable and it eventually fell down,” said Ko Khaing Min Shin, who is living in the city area of Mrauk-U Town.

He added that Koe Thaung temple and other temples in Mrauk-U town were in a state of collapse.

The Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library in Mrauk-U inspected the collapsed stupa. It was discovered that it was reconstructed in 2000, officials from the department said.

“We will have to repair it. We have checked it. It was renovated in 2000. So, it was not an ancient stupa,” said Dr Than Htike, official from the Archaeology, National Museum and Library in Mrauk-U Town.

Mrauk-U is the last capital city in the Arakan Kingdom that existed from 1340 until 1785 and attempts are now being made to include the ancient city on UNESCO’s world heritage list.

Currently, the compilation of a draft proposal to list the ancient city as a world cultural heritage zone has been 70 percent completed and it is scheduled to be submitted on 21 July.

The Myadasaung pagoda was built by King Min Saw Mon in Mrauk-U era. It was built in AD 1432 and is also called East Myadasaung Pagoda.