Burma: A deadly airstrike carried out by Myanmar’s ruling military junta has resulted in the deaths of at least 17 students and left 20 others injured at a school located in a territory controlled by opposition forces.
The attack occurred on Monday in the town of Depayin, situated in the Sagaing region of central Myanmar, approximately 160 kilometers north of Mandalay. The region is near the epicenter of a devastating earthquake that struck on March 28.
The targeted school is operated by the shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which opposes the junta’s rule. NUG spokesperson Nay Phone Latt confirmed the casualty figures, adding that the final death toll may rise as some students are still unaccounted for amid the chaos caused by the airstrike.
"According to the information we have so far, 17 students have been killed and 20 injured," Nay Phone Latt said. "Some may have been missing due to bomb damage, so the death toll could be higher."
This incident has occurred despite a ceasefire declared by the military government, initially announced in early April following the devastating earthquake, with an extension until May 31. The ceasefire was meant to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts. However, clashes have persisted in several parts of the country, with reports of ongoing airstrikes and artillery attacks.
Myanmar has been mired in conflict since the military seized power in a coup in 2021, overthrowing an elected government. The junta has struggled to maintain control, facing resistance from ethnic minority armed groups and opposition forces linked to the NUG, which includes members of the ousted civilian administration.
