On March 28 at 12:52 PM, an earthquake centered in Sagaing caused the collapse of Thukhadhita Buddhist Nunnery near Swun Oo Punya Shin Pagoda in Nan Oo New Town, Sagaing, resulting in the deaths of nine people including Dr. Thanda Thwin, a pulmonologist, and six senior monks including three patron abbots, as confirmed by Ma Wuntha from Thukhadhita Buddhist Nunnery.
The incident claimed the lives of one senior nun residing at the monastery, two patron abbots, three teaching nuns, and three civilians including Dr. Thanda Thwin, who had been providing regular healthcare services to the nuns every Sabbath day. Dr. Thanda Thwin, who resided in Mandalay, would travel to Thukhadhita Buddhist Nunnery in Sagaing every Saturday to provide free medical care to over 300 student nuns, a service she had faithfully maintained for many years.
On the day of the earthquake, Dr. Thanda Thwin was treating ill nuns in the monastery clinic when the earthquake struck, causing the building to collapse. The doctor and her sister, who was a patron of the monastery, perished along with several nuns in the incident. The head abbess, who witnessed the tragic event, suffered such severe emotional shock that she experienced sudden cardiac arrest and passed away immediately at the scene. Currently, clearing operations at the collapsed monastery building are still ongoing. All the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and cremation ceremonies have been completed, according to Ma Wuntha’s statement.
