YANGON, Aug 03 (AFP): A Myanmar junta air strike on a rebel-occupied ruby mining hub killed 13 people on Saturday, according to a resident and a spokesperson for an armed opposition group.
Civil war has consumed Myanmar since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, sparking resistance from pro-democracy guerrillas who found common cause with long-active ethnic armed groups.
Their scattered forces initially struggled to make headway, but a combined offensive starting in late 2023 seized swathes of territory, including the town of Mogok-the centre of the ruby trade.
Myanmar is rich in precious stones and rare earth elements, which are coveted by all factions. A junta spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
However, a local who declined to be named for security reasons said the strike took place around 08:15 am (0145 GMT), killing seven instantly, with six dying later of their wounds.
He said among the dead were a Buddhist monk collecting alms and a father and son who were riding the same motorbike. "A car passing through the area was hit, too," he added. "Seven people were wounded, including the driver."
A spokeswoman for the Ta'ang National Liberation Army, which has occupied Mogok since last summer, matched that death toll, but gave a figure of 14 wounded.
"It was in the morning time when the airstrike hit a public area," said spokeswoman Lway Yay Oo. "There were a lot of people walking in the street, therefore a lot of people were killed."
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