EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / Mourners react during a funeral of victims who were killed in a bombardment carried out by Myanmar's military at the Ohe Htein Twin village in Tabayin township, Sagaing Region, on May 12, 2025. A Myanmar junta airstrike hit a school on May 12 killing 22 people, including 20 children, witnesses said, despite a purported humanitarian ceasefire called to help the nation recover from a devastating earthquake. (Photo by AFP)
A representative from the Depaeyin Township People’s Administration has confirmed that the death toll has risen to 24 following the military council’s airstrike on a school in Ohe Htein Twin village, Sagaing Region. Two more children who were among the injured have succumbed to their wounds, adding to the initial casualties from the attack.
The incident occurred on May 12 at 9:35 AM when a MiG-29 fighter jet from the military council’s Meiktila-based Shan Tae Lair Air Force Base conducted an airstrike on the village school. The initial attack resulted in the immediate deaths of two teachers and 20 students, with 102 others sustaining injuries. Among the injured, an 8-year-old Grade 2 student named Maung Aung Zeyar passed away on May 13, and an 11-year-old Grade 3 student named Ma Pyae Pyae Nyein died on the morning of May 14.
Currently, several of the injured remain in critical condition, according to local authorities. The medical response has been complicated by the need to disperse patients across multiple locations for emergency treatment, making it difficult to provide detailed updates on their conditions. The official breakdown of casualties includes two teachers, six male students, and sixteen female students among the deceased. The widespread nature of the medical response and the ongoing security concerns have forced medical teams to operate in various locations rather than centralizing treatment in one facility.
The Depaeyin Township People’s Administration is providing necessary assistance to the families of the victims and affected villagers in accordance with National Unity Government (NUG) guidelines. They continue to offer support and aid to those impacted by the attack. The international community has strongly condemned the military council’s deliberate targeting of civilian educational facilities, viewing it as a serious violation of humanitarian principles. The administration has emphasized their commitment to continuing support for the affected families while working within the framework of NUG directives to provide comprehensive assistance to the community during this tragic period.
