Myanmar Earthquake Destroys Historic Shia Mosque in Mandalay, Worsens Living Crisis

Myanmar Earthquake Destroys Historic Shia Mosque in Mandalay, Worsens Living Crisis
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A powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar last month on Friday, March 28, caused severe destruction in several cities, with Mandalay bearing the heaviest toll. Among the worst-hit sites was the 300-year-old Historic Shia Mosque of Mandalay, which was completely destroyed during the tremors.

The quake, which hit around 1 p.m. local time as Friday prayers were underway, affected Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, and Naypyidaw. According to the Myanmar Clerics’ Assembly, Mandalay—once a royal capital and still a significant cultural and religious center—suffered the greatest losses.

The demolished mosque, one of the oldest Shia landmarks in the country, was built by Iranian, Indian, and Afghan migrants who settled in Myanmar nearly five centuries ago. Today, the Shia population in the country numbers about 5,000, mostly descendants of those early communities.

In addition to the mosque, dozens of Shia homes in Mandalay were either destroyed or left with severe cracks, forcing families to abandon their multi-story residences out of fear of collapse. The community, already among Myanmar’s poorest, now faces an acute humanitarian crisis, compounded by the ongoing economic hardship and military rule.

The Myanmar Clerics’ Assembly has appealed to Islamic organizations, charities, and leaders across the Muslim world to urgently mobilize humanitarian assistance for the affected Shia community, describing the situation as “critical” and demanding immediate relief efforts.