An armed resistance group in Myanmar has accused the ruling military government of continuing to carry out airstrikes on “civilian targets” in the wake of the country’s devastating earthquake.
The Karen National Union (KNU), one of Myanmar’s oldest ethnic armies, said in a statement that the military government, known as the junta, continues to “carry out airstrikes on civilian targets.” It also added the strikes are being carried out “even as the population is being hit hard by the earthquake.”
The KNU said that under normal circumstances the military would have prioritised post-earthquake relief efforts, but instead it focused on “deploying forces to attack its own people.”
Myanmar Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing declared the country in national mourning following the devastating earthquake.
“Due to the loss of human lives, the days from March 31 to April 6 have been declared national mourning days,” the minister’s order said.
On March 28, Myanmar was hit by several powerful earthquakes with magnitudes as high as 7.7. Aftershocks were felt in China and Vietnam. The natural phenomenon also affected Thailand. A skyscraper under construction collapsed in Bangkok, killing 17 people and leaving dozens more missing.
The death toll from the earthquakes in Myanmar exceeded 1,700, with another 3,400 injured and about 300 missing. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that the death toll in Southeast Asia could exceed 10,000.
The earthquake in Myanmar was the largest in 80 years. Rescue teams from China, India, Singapore, Thailand and Russia have been sent to help the country’s authorities.
