At least 40 people were killed and dozens more injured after a devastating aerial attack struck a religious festival in central Myanmar, officials and eyewitnesses reported on Tuesday. The attack, which came during one of the country’s most significant Buddhist celebrations, has left the local community reeling and the international community condemning the violence.
According to local media reports and accounts from witnesses on the ground, a paraglider, allegedly operated by Myanmar’s military junta forces, released explosive devices onto a crowded gathering attending the Thadingyut full moon festival. This festival, a time of light, reverence, and communal celebration, marks the end of Buddhist Lent and is traditionally characterized by candle-lit ceremonies, offerings, and festive processions. The incident occurred in Chaung-U Township, situated in Myanmar’s Sagaing Region, which has increasingly become a hub of organized resistance against military rule since the coup in February 2021.
Eyewitness Accounts
Festival-goers described the chaos in stark and harrowing detail. According to witnesses, hundreds of people, including families with children, elderly citizens, and local monks, were participating in the festivities when the explosives were dropped. Panic quickly erupted as the crowd scattered, with screams echoing over the sound of explosions.
One local resident told reporters, “We were lighting candles and offering prayers when we heard a loud buzzing sound overhead. Moments later, explosions tore through the crowd — people were screaming, running in every direction. I could see flames and smoke rising from the stalls, and the noise was unbearable.”
Videos shared on social media show burning stalls, overturned vehicles, and debris strewn across the festival grounds, while people fled in terror through narrow alleys and crowded streets. The scenes convey both the scale of destruction and the indiscriminate nature of the attack, which left families torn apart and many injured in critical condition.
Casualties and Emergency Response
Local rescue teams confirmed that at least 40 people were killed, including a significant number of women and children, and dozens more sustained severe injuries. Emergency volunteers and local healthcare workers rushed the wounded to nearby clinics, but treatment capacity is severely limited in Sagaing due to ongoing conflict, shortages of medical supplies, and destroyed infrastructure.
The National Unity Government (NUG) — the shadow administration opposing the military junta — denounced the strike, describing it as “a deliberate act of terror against innocent civilians celebrating a religious holiday.” In contrast, the ruling military council has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident, fueling further outrage and concern from local populations and human rights observers.
Sagaing Region: A History of Violence
The Sagaing Region has witnessed some of the deadliest clashes since Myanmar’s military seized power in the February 2021 coup, ousting the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Resistance forces, including local ethnic militias and pro-democracy groups, have seized control of several towns and rural areas, challenging the junta’s authority. In response, the military has increasingly relied on airstrikes, drone attacks, and aerial bombardments to suppress opposition and instill fear in civilian populations.
Human rights organizations have repeatedly accused Myanmar’s military of targeting civilians, often using air attacks on villages, markets, and gatherings to punish areas perceived as sympathetic to resistance movements. The United Nations and multiple international watchdogs have condemned these tactics, warning that they may constitute war crimes under international law. Despite global criticism, there has been little effective enforcement or intervention, leaving ordinary citizens vulnerable to repeated attacks.
Aftermath and Community Response
The aftermath of Tuesday’s bombing is both tragic and chaotic. Images from the scene show smoldering debris, destroyed stalls, and festival decorations scattered among the bodies of victims. Volunteers and local residents continued searching for survivors late into the night, carefully moving through wreckage while tending to the wounded.
For many in Chaung-U, the Thadingyut festival — a time traditionally reserved for family reunions, paying respect to elders, and communal celebration — has instead become a painful reminder of the country’s ongoing turmoil. Local monks and religious leaders offered prayers and brief services at the edge of the destroyed festival site, honoring the victims and calling for an end to the violence.
Families in the region are now grappling with immense grief, trying to identify missing loved ones while also providing care for those seriously injured. Many victims were rushed to makeshift clinics and nearby towns, highlighting the severe strain on local healthcare facilities that are already struggling amidst years of conflict.
International Reactions
The attack has drawn international condemnation. Humanitarian organizations and foreign governments have called for immediate investigation into the events and urged the military junta to cease targeting civilian gatherings. Analysts warn that continued attacks on cultural and religious events risk further destabilizing the region and deepening public resentment against the military regime.
The tragedy in Chaung-U underscores the fragility of peace and security in central Myanmar, a region that has become a focal point for both military suppression and grassroots resistance. It also highlights the urgent need for humanitarian aid, medical support, and international monitoring to protect civilians caught in the crossfire of this prolonged conflict.
As Myanmar continues to struggle with political instability, ethnic tensions, and military repression, the loss of innocent lives at a religious festival serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the ongoing crisis. For now, the people of Chaung-U mourn their dead, tend to the injured, and cling to hope that one day, their communities can celebrate traditions like the Thadingyut festival without fear, without bombs, and in peace.