Myanmar airstrike on Rakhine market kills 50, injures 58

An airstrike by Myanmar’s military on a crowded market in Kyauktaw, in the conflict-hit Rakhine State, has killed at least 50 people and injured 58 others, aid workers and local rescuers said Tuesday (September 29).

The attack took place around noon on Monday when a military fighter jet dropped bombs on a riverside market and an adjacent bridge area in Kyauktaw, according to eyewitnesses.

At least 30 people were initially reported killed, but the death toll rose to 50 as rescue operations continued.

Senior Rakhine aid worker Wai Htun Aung said 58 people were injured, with several suffering severe burns after the market caught fire following the bombing.

He warned that the death toll could rise further.

The Arakan Army, which controls the area, said in a statement Tuesday that 49 bodies had been recovered and that 22 of the 58 injured were in critical condition.

It said the victims included pedestrians, market vendors, shoppers and day labourers unloading goods at the river port.

Kyauktaw’s riverside market has become a major commercial hub for Rakhine, particularly as the state has been largely cut off from mainland Myanmar since the military coup in 2021.

The river route also serves as an important link toward India.

The Arakan Army controls most of Rakhine State, while Myanmar’s military retains several urban areas and has continued air operations using fighter jets.

Rights groups have accused the military of targeting civilian areas, including schools and religious sites, during the conflict.