Powerful earthquake causes damage to 190 ancient pagodas, temples in Myanmar

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar on Wednesday causing damage to 190 ancient pagodas and temples in Bagan-Nyaung Oo, an ancient city in central Myanmar, as well as in Salay and Mrauk U townships, according to an announcement of the archeology department of Myanmar.

Due to earthquake which rocked Myanmar at 05:04 p.m. local time, one man died in Pakkoku township in Magwe region and two girls also lost their lives in Yenanchaung township.

With an epicenter 197.9 kilometers southwest of Mandalay and 19.3 kilometers west of Chauk, the quake jolted most parts of the country including Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon,according to the country's Meteorology and Hydrology Department.

The quake shook buildings and damaged electricity supply in many parts of the country, according to residents of quake-hit areas.

Morever, initial reports said that part of the building of the House of Nationalities in Nay Pyi Taw was found cracked.

The department of relief and resettlement has alerted the people in quake-hit areas to be aware of the follow-up small quakes.

The powerful quake was also felt in neighboring Bangladesh and several Indian states including West Bengal, Bihar and Assam, with thousands of panic-stricken people rushed outdoors following the jolts that lasted for seconds.

Source : XINHUA