BANGKOK: At least 15 people, including children, were killed, and 20 others sustained injuries on Sunday in an airstrike on a village in northwestern Myanmar as conflicting reports emerge regarding the exact toll. The incident occurred amid the ongoing and intensifying conflict between the military junta and opposition forces in various regions of the country.
The air raid targeted a village in Khampat Township, Tamu district, around 10:15 am local time, according to local media outlets. Initial reports put the death toll at 15 people, with an additional 20 persons wounded. However, witnesses who spoke to AFP anonymously for safety reasons claimed a higher toll, stating that 19 people, including eight children, were killed in the attack.
The witnesses described the airstrike targeting two churches in the village. The first bombs reportedly hit the churches, and a second attack occurred as people fled the buildings. The chaotic situation, compounded by the crowds, made the attack more deadly, with many people losing their lives outside the church area as they tried to escape.
Myanmar Junta Drops Six Bombs on Village
According to the witnesses, the junta’s jet dropped a total of six bombs, some of which hit houses and a school near the churches. The village, under the control of a People’s Defence Force (PDF) group opposing the junta, has been designated as a target by the military, which considers such groups “terrorists.”
Despite eyewitness accounts and media reports, state media in Myanmar, including MRTV, denied the incident, labeling it as “fake news.” They claimed there were no aircraft operating in the area at the reported time.
The village had planned a graduation ceremony for new PDF recruits, who were relocated to a nearby jungle on the day of the airstrike. The witnesses expressed concerns about the possibility of rising casualties, with some persons reportedly seriously injured.
