27 April 2026 By Moe Nya
THANDAUNGGYI, Myanmar — Civilian casualties have been reported and several villages destroyed by fire after the Myanmar military junta launched a series of intense air and artillery strikes on residential areas in Thandaunggyi Township on Monday.
The assault, which began in the early morning of 27 April and continued until evening, focused on the Ngwe Taung village tract. Local witnesses described a relentless campaign of aerial bombing and heavy shelling targeting the villages of Bahan, Ngwe Taung, and Tawpone (Lower).
“The jets started bombing this morning and didn’t stop until late afternoon,” a local resident told MPA. “At the same time, the military base at Shwe Nan Kalay was firing heavy artillery without pause. Houses are in flames, and people have been killed and injured. We are all just running for our lives.”
Visual reports from the ground show plumes of smoke rising from civilian areas as families attempt to flee into the surrounding forests under the cover of smoke and trees.
Military analysts suggest the escalation is a retaliatory move following a string of losses for the junta in the region. Intense fighting broke out on 22 April in the nearby Thami Taik tract, where military columns reportedly suffered significant casualties during clashes with the People’s Defence Forces (PDF).
“The junta is losing its administrative grip on Thandaunggyi,” an analyst noted. “When they lose on the ground, they resort to airpower and artillery to terrorize the civilian population. It’s a deliberate strategy to cut off support for the resistance by making the local environment unlivable.”
The ongoing bombardment has triggered a fresh wave of displacement in northern Kayin State. Thandaunggyi, a mountainous region already hosting thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs), is now seeing entire villages emptied as residents seek safety in caves and remote jungle areas.
While the exact number of fatalities remains unconfirmed due to the ongoing nature of the strikes and the lack of communication in the area, local aid groups fear the toll will rise. MPA is continuing to monitor the situation as rescue workers attempt to reach the affected zones.
The military junta has yet to issue a statement regarding the strikes, but its “scorched earth” tactics in ethnic regions continue to draw international condemnation as the conflict in Myanmar enters an increasingly brutal phase of aerial warfare.
