Ava, the ancient capital of central Myanmar is left in ruins

A powerful earthquake killed at least 300 people in the town of Tada-U, while also devastating historic pagodas and religious sites in the ancient city of Ava, Mandalay Region, sources told Myanmar Now.

Three people died when a sightseeing tower collapsed in the city, a popular tourist hotspot in Tada-U Township, while many ancient religious buildings suffered extensive damage. 

“Two women and a Tuk Tuk driver were killed when the tower collapsed,”  a man from Oe Toke Tan Village told Myanmar Now. “Two bodies are still trapped under the debris.”