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An airstrike by Myanmar’s military on a crowded riverside market in Kyauktaw, in conflict-hit Rakhine State, killed at least 50 people and injured 58 others, aid workers and local rescuers said Tuesday.
A military fighter jet dropped bombs on the market and a nearby bridge area around noon Monday, witnesses said. The death toll initially stood at about 30 but rose as rescue teams recovered more bodies.
Senior Rakhine aid worker Wai Htun Aung said 58 people were injured, several with severe burns after the market caught fire. He warned that the toll could rise further.
The Arakan Army, which controls Kyauktaw, said 49 bodies had been recovered and 22 of the injured were in critical condition. It said the victims included vendors, shoppers, pedestrians and day labourers unloading goods at the river port.
The riverside market is a key commercial centre in Rakhine, which has been largely cut off from mainland Myanmar since the military seized power in 2021. The river route also provides an important link towards India.
The Arakan Army controls most of Rakhine, while the military retains several urban areas and has continued air operations against areas held by the group.
Rights organisations have repeatedly accused Myanmar’s military of carrying out attacks in civilian areas, including schools and religious sites, during the conflict.