Myawaddy hit by two vehicle explosions

Two vehicle explosions occurred at separate locations in Myawaddy, a town on the Myanmar–Thailand border, at around 1:14–1:15 a.m. on September 13, according to local sources.

A vehicle believed to be a Honda Fit exploded and caught fire while parked in front of the Myawaddy District Information and Public Relations Office on Aung Zeya Road in Ward 5.

A resident of Aung Zeya Road said the area, which is near the information and public relations office, post office, police station and court, is usually kept clear of parked vehicles at night for security reasons.

“There were no vehicles there until 7 p.m. We did not notice what happened after that. The explosion was very loud, and the fire caused considerable alarm,” the resident said.

The explosion reportedly involved gas cylinders fitted together with an explosive device inside the vehicle. The blast caused a loud explosion and fire. One gas cylinder remained unexploded after the incident. Nearby homes and buildings were reportedly not damaged.

A second explosion occurred at about 1:14 a.m. on a car parked in front of the Traffic Police Office near Yaypu Junction on Chit Kyi Yay Road in Ward 5.

The blast damaged the roof and shattered windows of the traffic police office. However, no people or animals were reportedly injured.

Myawaddy also experienced an explosion in front of a Union Solidarity and Development Party office on Bogyoke Aung San Road on the night before a previous election. That incident caused extensive damage to nearby homes and buildings and killed a young woman.