A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Bagan, Myanmar, irreparably damaging centuries-old Buddhist temples ranked among Asia's greatest artistic landmarks.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- 7.0 Mw
- Date & Time
- July 8, 1975 at 6:34 PM local (12:04 UTC)
- Depth range
- 84–157 km (uncertain)
- Worst earthquake in recorded history
- Last 900 years per Burma's Director General of Archeology
- Hardest-hit areas
- Nyaung-U, Pakokku, Yesagyo, Myaing townships
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The earthquake resulted from ongoing subduction and collision between the India Plate and the Burma Plate. The event originated at their interface, at a depth estimated between 84 and 157 km, though the precise source remains uncertain due to inconsistencies in depth data.
On July 8, 1975, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Bagan, Myanmar, at 6:34 PM local time. Strong shaking was felt across Nyaung-U, Pakokku, Yesagyo, and Myaing townships along the Ayeyarwady River, with additional damage reported in Chauk and Natmauk townships.
Many of Bagan's historic stupas and temples were irreparably damaged. Burma's Director General of Archeology described it as the worst earthquake in 900 years of recorded history. The destruction dealt a severe blow to a site art historians compare to Angkor Wat and the cultural treasures of Venice and Florence.