The Military Council arrested four locals following a fire that broke out at an immigration office in Yebyu Township, Dawei District, Tanintharyi Region. The immigration office was under tight security when the incident occurred, locals said.
Witnesses reported hearing at least 10 gunshots and seeing a fire start at the immigration office around 7:30 PM on March 15th.
"At that moment, it was already dark as the sunlight had disappeared. I had just returned from work, taken a shower, and was having dinner when I heard gunshots. Shortly after, I heard people running and shouting that the immigration office was on fire”, a local in his 40s said.
The Military Council has apprehended four individuals in relation to the fire; however, their identities have not yet been disclosed.
Approximately 15 minutes after the fire ignited, a fire engine arrived from the opposite side of Yebyu and promptly extinguished the flames, resulting in the fire being put out by around 9:30 PM.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire destroyed a one-story concrete dormitory within the office premises.
Yebyu residents said that there were no casualties resulting from the fire, as the office staff were reportedly absent from the premises at the time.
While the fire was ongoing, a loud explosion was heard coming from the office compound, and nearby residents reported hearing gunshots from a certain location within the town.
Subsequently, the Military Council troops arrived in military vehicles to the site of the fire, carried out inspections, and arrested four individuals for undisclosed reasons. The whereabouts of these individuals are currently unknown.
In May of last year, a bomb explosion occurred at the immigration office in Yebyu, and in July, the Military Intelligence office adjacent to it was destroyed by fire following a shooting incident.