DVB has documented 5,358 civilian fatalities in 510 massacres, including the deadliest airstrikes in Arakan State carried out by the Myanmar Air Force that killed at least 50 civilians in Kyauktaw Township on Sept. 28, allegedly committed by the Myanmar military from March 14, 2021 to Oct. 5, 2026.
“The project’s aim is to preserve a public record of these atrocities so that they are not erased or forgotten, and to contribute to future efforts to establish the truth, ensure accountability and seek justice,” said Caroline Pyae, the head of DVB Data & Research Team, who created the interactive web story: The Data Behind Myanmar’s Massacres.
A massacre is an incident in which at least five civilians were killed.
Caroline Pyae developed the web story after receiving the Gwen Akiko Robinson Journalism Fellowship, established in 2026 to honor Robinson’s legacy and her commitment to independent reporting by supporting female journalists from Myanmar who continue to share stories despite challenging conditions.
The Data Behind Myanmar’s Massacres documents that 578 children were among the total 5,358 fatalities, and found that airstrikes were the most frequent cause of death, accounting for 251 incidents and 2,893 deaths. It recorded 1,297 civilian deaths in 137 massacres nationwide in 2025—the highest number since the military coup in 2021.
Over the last four years, Caroline Pyae has built a database of reports and published it as an interactive website, allowing users to explore individual incidents and broader patterns by location, year, and method of killing.
“The records are compiled from publicly available reporting by local and international media, civil society organizations, local monitoring groups and public statements from relevant organizations,” added Caroline Pyae.
The dataset focuses on civilians and resistance members, prisoners of war and captured military-affiliated personnel who weren’t active combatants when they were killed.
Caroline Pyae said she cross-checked dates, locations and details on causes of death and updated the records as credible new information emerged.
