Eighteen Arakanese men and women were among 170 people injured in the bomb blasts during the New Year's water festival in Rangoon on 14 April, said an Arakanese community leader from Rangoon.

“Eighteen Arakanese were among the wounded in the water festival bomb blasts. Most are women," he said.

Three bombs exploded in quick succession at the X20 pavilion near Kandawgyi Lake in Rangoon on 14 April, killing five men and three women, and injuring 170 people.

"The 18 Arakanese people were injured in the bomb blasts when they were crossing the pavilion to go to the traditional Arakanese water festival that was being held at Thein Pyu Ground," the source added.

Two of the victims, identified as Ma Ye Ye Kyaw from Kyauktaw Township and Min Min Hein from Ann Township, suffered serious injuries.

An Arakanese community source said 10 people from Kyauktaw Township are among the injured. They are identified as Daw Aye Aye Kyin, Daw Shwe Yin, Ma Moe Moe Than, Ma Htay Htay Yin, Daw Mya Yin, Daw Tin Ye, Daw Win Chay, Daw Khaing Khaing Aye, and U Zaw Win Tun.

U Hla Myint and San Kyaw Maung from Ponna Kyunt Township, and Ma Let, U Soe Naing, Ma Htwe Htwe Yee, Maung Mrat Moe Naing, and Min Min Hein from Ann Township are also among the injured.

All of them were taken to Rangoon General Hospital for treatment.

A relative of a victim said that the condition of the injured is improving following treatment.

The Arakanese traditional water festival was held at Thein Pyu Grounds in Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township with 14 water playing pavilions where thousands of Arakanese living in Rangoon participated.

During the last day of the festival, there were not many people at the Arakanese pavilion because people avoided it out of fear of further bomb blasts.