The bodies of 13 civilians, including a 6-year-old
child and five women, were found in Tan Lwe Ywar Ma town under Taungup township
of Arakan State, after the airstrikes conducted by the junta soldiers, said
local residents.
The deceased are identified as Maung Swan Sett Naing
(6), U Kyaw Mya Thant (70), U Maung Gyi (40), U Khin Maung Zin (61), Daw
Shwe Lar (57), Daw Ma Chit Su (46), U Maung Myint Lwin (56), U San Zaw
Htay (34), Daw Khin Htay Myint (42), Daw Khin San (52), U Khin Maung Ye
(48), U Aung Kyaw Sein (69) and Daw Ma Tin Ye (61), who all hailed from ward no
4 in the town.
Among those injured include U Thant Lwin (63),
Daw Shwe Khae (50), Daw Khin Moe Lwin (51), U Thaung Wai (73), Daw Moe
Sein (75), Ko Aung Min (26).
“Many people sustained serious injuries, including
broken arms and legs,” said a young resident.
While the search operation for more bodies continues,
some residents started fleeing the town.
At 11:10 pm on 7 October, the junta jet fighter dropped two bombs on the houses located between
road 1 and road 2 near Ywar Thit market.
Tan Lwe Ywar Ma town, situated 15 miles north of
Taungup, came under the AA’s control after the police forces retreated from
their station.
Ywar Thit market area, recently targeted by the
junta’s airstrikes, is surrounded by the key facilities including a hospital, a
municipal office, an electricity office and the town administration office.
Residents reported that the junta forces deliberately
dropped bombs on residential wards while civilians were asleep.
On 24 September at 8 pm, the said town was struck by
the airstrikes resulting in the death of a displaced university student
(Ko Aung Thura) and another civilian. Three additional civilians sustained
injuries and the attack damaged a police station and several nearby houses
along with a water factory.
On 4 October, the junta soldiers carried out
airstrikes on Kin Taung San Pya village, located along the Taungup-Maei road,
11 miles north of Taungup. The strike killed five civilians, including a
10-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl and it injured 20 others.
At least 24 civilians were killed and more than 30
were injured as a result of the junta's airstrikes (from mid-August to 8
October) in Taungup locality alone, found in a survey conducted by Narinjara
News.
Photograph: Houses destroyed by junta’s airstrikes in
Tan Lwe Ywar Ma town on 24 September (Tan Lwe Htar Ni)