In Myittha Township, Mandalay Region, thousands of civilians from villages along the Ayeyarwady River are being forced to flee to safety as military council vessel groups advancing upstream are firing heavy weapons indiscriminately. According to local information networks, a flotilla of more than ten vessels, including military ships, began moving upstream from Mandalay’s Gawwein port this morning, continuously firing heavy weapons at villages along the riverbanks as they advance along the Ayeyarwady River.
The military vessel group has currently reached near Nant Thonezay village in Myittha Township and continues to advance upstream along the western bank of the Ayeyarwady River. Civilians living along the riverbanks have been evacuating since the upper Mingun area, as the military council forces are expected to continue their heavy weapons assault. The military flotilla, which departed from Mandalay’s Yadanabon Shipyard at 8:15 AM today, consists of approximately twenty-two vessels, including two military ships, two landing craft, two flat-bottomed ships, and several cargo vessels.
Local revolutionary groups have issued warnings to residents living along the Ayeyarwady River corridor and urged them to evacuate to safe locations as quickly as possible. They have specifically warned about the military council’s pattern of indiscriminately firing heavy weapons at innocent civilians during their waterway operations. Local residents are now in a situation where they must protect their lives and property while fleeing to safety. The military council’s naval operations have created a humanitarian crisis as civilians are forced to abandon their homes and communities to escape the threat of artillery fire and military violence.
