At least 33 killed in airstrike near Myanmar market

An airstrike near a market in Kyauktaw, in Myanmar’s Rakhine state, killed at least 33 people and wounded 36 on September 28, according to the Arakan Army and a local rescue official. The Arakan Army said the death toll could rise. The incident has not been independently verified, and Myanmar’s military had not immediately commented. The Arakan Army, which controls the area, said a fighter jet dropped two bombs near the market around noon. It reported that vendors, shoppers and pedestrians were among those killed. Wai Hun Aung, a senior rescue official in Rakhine, confirmed the reported casualties, citing rescue workers at the scene. Wai Hun Aung described the market as the region’s main wholesale centre, drawing traders and shoppers from across Rakhine. The reported strike took place in Kyauktaw township in the state’s north. The Arakan Army said the town is under its control. Images and videos posted on social media appeared to show fires, damaged vehicles and damage to parts of a nearby bridge. Those materials do not independently establish the circumstances of the attack or who was responsible. Reuters said it could not independently verify details of the incident.