During Myanmar’s New Year, military council leader Min Aung Hlaing announced through state-controlled newspapers that reconstruction work would be carried out for damages caused by the recent earthquake. While the March 28 earthquake caused extensive damage to government buildings and staff housing in Naypyidaw, the military council had not previously released detailed damage assessments, and only now has acknowledged the need for reconstruction efforts.
Among the completely destroyed buildings in Naypyidaw are the military office in Zeya Thiri, the Presidential Palace, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Supreme Court, Constitutional Tribunal, Ministry of Industry, and Immigration Office. According to a civil servant from Naypyidaw, some of these offices have been relocated to temporary locations, while others are operating from makeshift structures in parking areas.
According to the military council’s statement, the March 28 earthquake resulted in nationwide damage to over 60,000 residential buildings, more than 3,514 monasteries and nunneries, over 2,366 schools, more than 3,678 government buildings and offices, over 155 bridges, and more than 5,620 pagodas and stupas. The military council has now announced that reconstruction efforts for these damaged structures will be accelerated.
