In Bagan-Nyaung U, a new rainfall record was established on September 12, surpassing any recorded in the past 60 years. According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), Nyaung U experienced 8.51 inches of rain, the highest amount since the DMH's inception in 1964.
Daw Khin Hla Nu, Head of the Meteorology and Hydrology Office in Nyaung U, described the downpour as unprecedented. "We have never seen such heavy rainfall before. It was an unexpected event caused by the Ragi storm from South China combined with monsoon winds," she explained.
The intense rainfall led to structural damage, including the collapse of some walls at the 13th-century Sinka Temple (Pagoda No. 1042) and the 12th-century Pagoda No. 167 on Hnatpyit Hill. Several temples have also experienced water leakage.
U Ze Myo Lin, an expert in temple preservation, attributed the damage to waterlogging, high atmospheric moisture, insufficient sunlight, and poor adhesion of earthen plaster. Despite these issues, no damage to wall paintings has been reported, although water seepage has affected five ancient pagodas.
The recent heavy rains also filled all ancient lakes in the Bagan region, which had been previously repaired after the 2023 Mokha storm. Fallen trees have been cleared, and no major damage has been reported, according to the Nyaung U Fire Department.
Historical records from the Nyaung U Meteorological Office show that in the decade from 1994 to 2003, there were only two instances of rainfall exceeding 3 inches. However, from 2004 to 2013, such heavy rainfall occurred six times in the same period.
