Following the extensive damage caused by the Sagaing earthquake in Naypyidaw, military council leader Min Aung Hlaing has announced plans to rebuild Naypyidaw as a new city. During yesterday’s military council meeting, Min Aung Hlaing revealed that they would recalculate and redesign the city’s layout, taking into consideration earthquake hazards in future construction plans. The announcement comes in response to the significant destruction caused by the recent seismic activity in the administrative capital.
The March 28 Sagaing earthquake caused substantial damage to government buildings and staff housing in Naypyidaw. Buildings constructed on filled land were particularly affected by the earthquake’s impact. As a result, the military council has stated that new construction will only proceed after thorough soil testing is completed. They also plan to relocate structures currently situated on fault lines. The reconstruction effort will focus on creating more resilient infrastructure that can withstand future seismic events.
Min Aung Hlaing stated that the rebuilt staff housing in Naypyidaw will be designed to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 8 on the Richter scale. Due to the current situation, several ministerial offices have been temporarily relocated to Yangon, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Labor Affairs, among others. These offices are scheduled to be rebuilt within the next six months. The temporary relocation highlights the extensive damage caused by the earthquake and the significant reconstruction work required.
Naypyidaw was established as Myanmar’s new capital during the previous military regime under Senior General Than Shwe. The government offices began relocating from Yangon to Naypyidaw on November 6, 2005, and the city was officially declared as the capital on March 27, 2006. Now, with substantial earthquake damage to many buildings, the military council is planning to rebuild it as a new city. The reconstruction plans represent a significant undertaking in the wake of the natural disaster that has severely impacted Myanmar’s administrative capital.
