Attack on Sagaing Region Monastery in Myanmar: At Least 23 Killed

According to Kokcha News Agency, an attack on a monastery in a village near Sagaing in Myanmar resulted in the death of at least 23 people early this morning. The death toll may rise as casualties continue to be confirmed. Hlaing Bwa, head of the Sagaing Regional People’s Administration, stated that the attack was carried out by Myanmar’s ruling military council, the State Administrative Council.

Bwa and local residents reported that about 200 people sought refuge in the monastery, escaping ongoing clashes. Reuters noted that there is no independent verification of how the attack was carried out.

Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has been embroiled in ongoing conflict with resistance groups resisting military rule. Although a ceasefire was declared in late March following a major 7.7 magnitude earthquake, the military continues to target regions controlled by insurgents. The earthquake left over 3,700 dead across affected areas, and in May, an attack on a school in Depayin, near the earthquake’s epicenter, reportedly killed at least 17 children.

In the latest incident, residents near the monastery, including rescue worker Phoe Kaine, confirmed that 23 people lost their lives, with many others injured. Kaine stated, “We are continuing rescue operations and medical evacuations to provide urgent aid for the wounded.”