Five civilians, including two women, were killed in an airstrike and bombing by the military junta on Kutkai town in northern Shan State, according to residents.
The airstrike also burned down shops in the town’s market and houses, according to local sources.
The junta attacked the Kutkai town market, where many civilians were located, and the areas along the Union Road with airstrikes and bombs at around 3pm on 5 August.
Lway Yay Oo, spokesperson of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), described the junta’s attack as an attack on civilians.
“Yesterday’s (5 Aug.) attack wasn’t aimed at us, but at civilians. In particular, they attacked the town’s market where there were many civilians, and the junction. It’s a deliberate attack on civilians,” said Lway Yay Oo.
The TNLA spokesperson confirmed that those killed were around 30 years old, including two women among the five fatalities.
According to social aid groups in Kutkai, at least 10 civilians were injured in the airstrike, one of them in critical condition.
“About 10 people were injured. One person is in a critical condition. We don’t know much about the rest yet. They say about a third of the market was burned. Some of those killed were hit as they were walking on the street. One died while selling at the market,” said a social welfare group official in Kutkai.
According to local residents, the military junta flew reconnaissance flights before the airstrike at around 2pm and then carried out the airstrike.
According to some local sources, people in the Kutkai market closed their shops when the reconnaissance plane circled overhead and fled to safe places, resulting in fewer casualties.
The junta reportedly used up to seven 500-pound bombs in the attack. The TNLA is currently clearing the area near the site of the airstrike, it added.
The Institute for Strategy and Policy (ISP) Myanmar reported on 5 August that the military junta has carried out nearly 5,800 airstrikes across Myanmar since the military coup.
Sent by KNG.