The military council carried out airstrikes Moetarlay village in Katha Township in Sagain Region on the evening of January 18, killing seven residents, locals said.
Another local claimed that several others were also injured in the airstrike, according to the latest information.
“The military council deliberately bombed Moetarlay village, located in the upper part of Katha. The bombs also hit an alms-giving ceremony in the village. Some were killed and some were wounded. People had to pull them out. Houses were destroyed. They dropped bombs on both the village and the outskirts,” he said.
According to reports, the regime’s air force carried out the bombing for no apparent reason.
“We heard that six houses were destroyed and seven people were killed. Maybe there are more. They came from Myitkyina with three planes and dropped bombs. The military council tends to kill people when they suffer a setback. They are probably 500-pound bombs,” another local source said.
Local sources said casualty figures and damaged homes were updated by Network Media Group at 8 pm on Jan. 18, and there may still be additions.
Separately, the Northern ABSDF reported that three junta jet fighters dropped 500-pound bombs on Moetarlay village at 6:15 pm on January 18, coming from Myitkyina. Seven villagers were killed on the spot and several injured, he said.
Northern ABSDF warned the population to watch out for their safety as the military council targets innocent civilians as its enemies.
Moetarlay village is located northeast of Katha on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, on the border between Sagaing Region and Kachin State. In the early days of the coup, regime troops stormed the village and burned the houses.
Sent by NMG.
