In March 2025, an earthquake struck Mandalay, causing widespread damage to historic monuments and cultural institutions. Protecting lives remains the highest priority, but Myanmar’s irreplaceable heritage also requires urgent, well-coordinated action. Experts Kai Weise, Rohit Jigyasu, and Duncan Marshall have outlined essential steps to stabilize vulnerable structures, safeguard cultural artifacts, and prepare for long-term recovery. Their recommendations emphasize rapid assessments, careful protection measures, and mobilization of local, national, and international resources to prevent further loss.
Experts’ Recommendations
Kai Weise, Rohit Jigyasu and Duncan Marshall
- The safety of people is priority. This means that the damaged heritage structures must be secured and people should be prevented from entering them, especially in consideration of their possible collapse due to aftershocks. Accordingly no entry zones should be clearly demarcated.
- As a first step, an initial rapid survey of the damage would need to be done possibly using available site maps to locate observations through reference number and possibly using GPS devices to take geo-location of images. A rapid damage assessment form was prepared (attached). Overall assessment needs to be made of the damage caused by the earthquake on cultural heritage sites and institutions. The initial assessment would be based on extent of damage on main structure as well as the various important elements such as mural paintings, stucco work, tiles, etc. Important statues and heritage objects that might be trapped in the monuments or buildings must be noted. The impact of previous interventions – the use of concrete, steel supports – also need to be assessed. The rapid assessment should also indicate the available response capacities (monastic community ready to help, etc).
- The capacity of the involved authorities must be increased for rapidly assessing the damage, securing, stabilizing and protecting the damaged heritage structures as well as for salvaging and storage of heritage fragments and collections. This would require the involvement of additional DOA staff with support of the local administration and volunteers, who can be young professionals from architecture, structural/civil engineering and museology.
- The required human and financial resources must be organized at a national level with further international support. Resources would also need to be mobilized from the private sector. This would require a quick assessment of the needs for materials, equipment and technical expertise for securing, stabilizing and protecting the damaged heritage structures and salvaging and storage of heritage fragments and collections.
- The protection of the monuments and institutions must be ensured
- It is crucial to prevent clearing of the debris from the monuments and no heavy equipment such as excavators or bulldozers should be allowed near the monuments. Where possible, debris from historic sites should be organized and protected.
- Damaged monuments should not be demolished. This information must be circulated to the local authorities including the rescue teams (such as the army or police). The damaged and collapsed monuments would ideally be cordoned off to prevent further loss. The damaged monuments need to be covered to protect from rain. Priority should be given to those with collections or mural paintings inside.
- To the extent possible, valuable objects or pieces of buildings that have come loose should be put in protected shelters — this can be neighbouring buildings, DOA premises, etc. Alternatively, guards could be deployed to prevent the threat of looting of precious objects or fragments from damaged structures.
- The salvaging and storage of artifacts that have been displaced or elements of the monuments that need special care must be planned and carried out. Safe and secure structures that can be used as storage areas need to be identified.
- Prioritization of structures for protection and response needs to be defined based on value and extent of damage and based on the vulnerability to the forthcoming rainy season. The feasibility of immediate stabilization measures must be considered and prioritized based on effectiveness and mitigating possible threat to people or heritage. The criteria for prioritization of protection must also be clarified. The damaged and collapsed monuments must be covered to protect from rain. Shoring and stabilization works should ideally involve minimal intervention affecting the existing fabric, and be reversible. Appropriate design of shoring for emergency stabilisation of structures must be developed with the help of experts. The designs should ensure effective protection of vulnerable heritage structures and mitigation of risks due to aftershocks, rain, etc., and should utilize local materials and resources as much as possible. This might require specialists to train local contractors and craftsmen to work on appropriate and effective shoring, which should be able to last until full recovery and restoration works are undertaken.
- Special in-situ care must be given to the murals and other ornamentation, both as fragile fabric but also to protect any fallen and damaged fabric from further damage. Conservation work on damaged structures would need to be planned long-term and not be rushed. It should be based on detailed assessment of damage to be carried out at a later stage after emergency measures have been put in place.
