Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, will begin inspecting the structural integrity of its ageing buildings from 1 July, in a pilot project aimed at reducing earthquake risks. Mayor Myo Myint Aung told the regional assembly that the initiative will be led by the Yangon City Development Committee, working with the Federation of Myanmar Engineering Societies and the Myanmar Earthquake Committee (MEC). Schools, hospitals and government offices are among the first to be assessed. Pilot project in downtown YangonThe initial inspections will take place in Latha Township, a central district known for its older mid‑rise buildings. Saw Htwe Zaw, vice chairman of the MEC, said the programme will provide detailed information about structural resilience, enabling emergency teams to respond more effectively after a quake. Although Yangon has not suffered the same devastation as other regions, the city of more than seven million sits close to the southern extension of the Sagaing Fault. That fault triggered the massive 2025 earthquake in upper Myanmar, which killed nearly 3,800 people. Experts have described Yangon as a potential “seismic timebomb”. Past plans stalledEfforts to prepare for earthquakes are not new. In 2019, the Yangon government under the National League for Democracy developed a preparedness plan with the UN Development Programme. However, the project was halted following the military coup in 2021. The new inspections will begin with visual screenings to identify vulnerable buildings by type, age and layout. Structures deemed at risk will undergo more detailed checks before decisions are made on retrofitting or rebuilding. Limited resources, wider ambitionsSaw Htwe Zaw acknowledged that the initiative is volunteer‑based and short on funding. But he hopes the pilot will serve as a showcase to attract donor support. “I hope we can do the same in earthquake‑affected Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Bago,” he said. For residents, even minor tremors have sparked anxiety since last year’s deadly quake. The inspections are intended to reassure the public and lay the groundwork for stronger disaster preparedness in a city where many buildings are poorly maintained. As Yangon takes its first steps towards systematic earthquake safety checks, the challenge will be sustaining momentum and securing resources to protect one of Southeast Asia’s most densely populated urban centres. -2026-06-28
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