Myanmar earthquake

Using brooms and their hands, soldiers and residents of an ancient Myanmar city famous for its historic Buddhist temples began cleaning up debris Thursday from a powerful earthquake that shook the region and damaged nearly 200 pagodas.

At least four people were killed and at least 171 pagodas were damaged in Bagan after a 6.8 magnitude quake struck the area on Wednesday. The tremor was centered about 25 kilometers (15 miles) west of Chauk, just south of Bagan.

The city is one of Myanmar’s top tourist attractions, drawing visitors from all over the world who can view a panorama of temples stretching to the horizon flanked by the Irrawaddy River.

Myanmar President Htin Kyaw arrived in Bagan on Thursday to assess the damage and speak with local officials about how to repair it.

The city has more than 2,200 structures, including pagodas and temples, constructed in the 10th to 14th centuries. Many are in disrepair while others have been restored in recent years, aided by the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO.

According to the Ministry of Religion and Culture, 171 pagodas were affected there and 19 were damaged elsewhere in the country. (AP)

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