Yangon: A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Wednesday killing at least one person and damaging around 60 pagodas in the ancient city of Bagan, officials said.
The quake, which the US Geological Survey said hit at a depth of 84 kilometres, was also felt across neighbouring Thailand, India and Bangladesh, sending panicked residents rushing onto the streets.
At least one man was killed in Magway region where the quake struck, said Han Zaw Win, a local MP from Pakokku township.
“A 22 year-old man was killed when a nearby building collapsed during the earthquake,” he said, adding that a woman was also injured.
A local official reported heavy damage to several temples in Bagan — Myanmar’s most famous archaeological site and a major tourist destination some 30 kilometres north of the quake’s epicentre.
“About 60 pagodas in Bagan were damaged. Some were seriously damaged,” said Aung Kyaw, the director of Bagan's culture department.The temples, built between the 10th and 14th centuries. The quake was also felt throughout south and southwestern Bangladesh with residents running outside.
