A child was injured and several staff housing buildings were damaged after a mortar shell exploded near Myaing Gyi Ngu Public Hospital in Hlaingbwe Township, Karen State, according to local residents who spoke to IMNA.
The explosion occurred at around 7 a.m. on February 9 inside the staff housing compound near the public hospital in the Myaing Gyi Ngu Special Region. A child living in the compound was hit by shrapnel and sustained injuries.
It is not yet known which armed group fired the mortar shell. However, in recent days, clashes have been reported across the Salween River in Kamamaung, where military junta troops are stationed. Fighting has been taking place between the junta forces and a joint force led by the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), local sources said.
A resistance fighter from the Kamamaung area said there has been no fighting in Myaing Gyi Ngu itself.
“There is no battle in Myaing Gyi Ngu. The fighting is happening on the other side of the river, in areas north of Kamamaung, including Kati Htee and Wadu. Clashes have been occurring daily in recent days. We do not know whether the shell that landed in Myaing Gyi Ngu was fired by mistake or if there was another reason,” he said.
Following the explosion, doctors, nurses and patients at the public hospital, as well as residents in the staff housing compound, were moved to safer locations, residents said.
According to sources, the ongoing clashes in the Kamamaung area involve troops under Brigade 5 of the Karen National Union (KNU) and allied resistance forces. The military junta has reportedly provided air support and used heavy weapons during the fighting.
This is the second time a mortar shell has landed in the Myaing Gyi Ngu area. In a previous incident, a shell fell in the area but did not explode, residents said.
