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.
