Residents of Hpa-An in Karen State have raised safety concerns as drones fly low every night, disturbing their night’s rest, residents reported.
The constant drone flights that have been taking place every night since Dec. 13 when people are sleeping have panicked residents of Hpa-An’s No. 2 Ward, and they are worried about their safety, said a youth from the town.
“I’ve never seen such a low flight of drones, only airplanes. The drones fly at night when people are sleeping. They fly low and the sound is loud. I was worried if these drones are coming to drop bombs somewhere. I’m worried that something life-threatening might happen. And there are many elderly people living here,” he told the Karen Information Center (KIC).
Residents also said they face security police, traffic police and soldiers coming to check in the morning after reports of the drone flights.
“We have elderly people at home. They also live in the house next door. They go to bed early and when they hear the sounds of the drone flights, they can’t go back to sleep. That makes it hard for them to get a good night’s sleep. And when we go to the market the next morning, we have to deal with policemen, soldiers and traffic police at the entrance of the street,” another resident told KIC.
Despite tighter security checks in Hpa-An as a result of nighttime drone flights, the number of travelers in the city is increasing, according to local news sources.
Similarly, regime soldiers reportedly fired about 10 rounds on Nov. 22, claiming a drone flew over Light Infantry Battalion-102 of Light Infantry Division-22 stationed in No. 6 Ward in Hpa-An.
Sent by KIC.