BANGKOK – At least two people were killed and three others injured when a bomb dropped by a Myanmar warplane missed its target and fell in a Karen village just 400 meters from the Thai border late Friday night (July 1). landed.
A fighter jet from Myanmar is spotted entering Thai airspace over Phop Phra district in Tak on Thursday. Photo: Assawin Pinitwong/Bangkok Post
The incident came just a day after a MiG-29 fighter jet crashed into Thai airspace over Pop Phra district in Tak province. Myanmar’s military government issued an apology and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the incident was “no big deal”.
The attack on Friday night forced nearly 100 villagers to flee to Thailand across the Moei River, reports the Bangkok Post.
According to reports, the Myanmar military used the MiG-29 jet to drop a large bomb on Karen military outposts in Thibabo village in Myawaddy city, but the bomb landed in the middle of the village.
The people killed and wounded in the attack were eating at their home at this time. The wounded were taken to Phop Phra Hospital for treatment. The attack took place just 400 meters from the Thai border, Thai media reported.
Thai PBS and Amarin TV reported that three villagers were killed and three others injured, but this has not been confirmed.
Amarin TV reported that the bomb landed on the house of the village head of Thibabo. The wounded were taken by boat across the Moei River to be treated at the hospital in Phop Phra, with permission from the Thai authorities.
According to Amarin TV, the dead victims had official documents issued by Thai authorities. One had a Thai ID card, another had a highlander ID card and the third person had a 10 year ID card.
One of the wounded also had a Thai identity card and another had a highlander identity card. There were no details on the third victim’s documents.
After the attack, 92 Karen villagers, mostly children and women, fled across the Moei River to seek refuge at Muenruechai Moo 5 village in Phop Phra.
A house in a village on the Thai side of the border was also damaged by shrapnel landing on its roof. No injuries were reported.
Loud explosions in Myanmar have terrified residents of two Thai border villages in recent days. Many have hidden in bunkers.
Thai soldiers have been deployed to increase security along the border.
Fighting between Myanmar soldiers and ethnic Karen rebels around the town of Myawaddy, opposite Huai Mae Mai Moo 2 and Ban Wao Lay Tai in Phop Phra, continued for the seventh straight day of heavy clashes on Saturday (July 2).
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