Residents of Hpasawng Township told DVB that one child was injured by airstrikes carried out by the Myanmar Air Force on Mawchi town, Karenni State, on Sunday. A hospital and staff housing were destroyed. Mawchi is located 84 miles (135 km) southeast of the Karenni State capital Loikaw. It is home to Myanmar’s largest tin and tungsten mining.
A Mawchi resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that scout Air Force jets flew over the town twice before the airstrikes occurred. Thai media reported that six people were injured after two fighter jets dropped bombs on the hospital in Mawchi.
Twenty-nine civilians were killed and over 60 were injured in at least eight airstrikes on Mawchi town so far this year, according to Karenni resistance forces. The Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) claimed it seized control of Mawchi in January 2024.
Regime forces have carried out air and artillery attacks on Mawchi and parts of Demoso Township, which is also under Karenni resistance control, so far this month. Loikaw, Bawlakhe, and Hpasawng townships are under regime control. Three children were injured when the Air Force dropped 50 bombs on Khaemaphyu village and Hpasawng town on Aug. 8.
