Myanmar Festival Bombing Leaves 24 Dead, Scores Injured

A tragic incident struck central Myanmar, when bombs were dropped from a motorized paraglider onto a crowd gathered for a Buddhist festival in Sagaing Region’s Chaung-U area. The event, which combined religious celebrations with a peaceful rally demanding the release of political prisoners, turned catastrophic as explosives rained down on attendees, killing at least 24 people, including children, and injuring over 50 others.

Eyewitnesses reported two separate bombing runs, one around 7:15 p.m. and another close to midnight, causing widespread panic and devastation. Local rescue teams struggled to respond amid chaotic scenes of destruction, with witnesses describing the area littered with debris and victims’ remains. The attack, allegedly carried out by Myanmar’s military junta using a paramotor, underscores a disturbing new tactic in the country’s ongoing civil conflict.

Since the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has seen relentless violence as resistance forces and the junta clash across the country. Observers note that the military’s increasing use of paragliders for low-cost aerial bombings reflects both desperation and dwindling resources. These makeshift attacks, often involving mortar shells dropped from the air, pose an acute threat to civilians.

Human rights organizations have condemned the assault. Amnesty International labeled it a “gruesome reminder” of the regime’s disregard for civilian life, while the United Nations called for immediate accountability, warning that such indiscriminate attacks may constitute war crimes.

This latest atrocity highlights Myanmar’s deepening humanitarian crisis. Despite international sanctions and repeated calls for peace, the junta continues to employ lethal force against gatherings perceived as politically symbolic. For Myanmar’s civilians, the bombing at the Buddhist festival stands as yet another harrowing reminder of the conflict’s escalating toll.