An artillery shell fired by the military junta during the Battle of Lay Kay Kaw in Kayin State exploded on the Thai side on December 16, locals said.

"The place where the artillery shells fell was close to Mae Htaw Ta Lay, so it must have crossed while shooting because only the Thaung Yin river bordered the place " the administrator of Lay Kay Kaw Myothit told Mizzima.

Fighting has continued between military troops and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) members around Mae Htaw Talay village and the exact number of casualties is not known.

The place where it exploded on the Thailand side is about six miles away from Myawaddy and the road to the Mae Kot Kin refugee camp on the other side of the Thaung Yin River. He said the shooting was believed to have been from a cannon base northwest of Lay Kay Kaw Myothit.

U Ye Min from the Aid Alliance Committee for Myanmar Workers(AAC) group said that the shelling caused cars to turn back on the Thai side and hit some refugees.

There are around 3,000 refugees fleeing the second day of fighting, more than 1,000 have fled to Thailand.

The AAC is working with the Mae Sot township chairman to provide temporary food and shelter.

The administrator of Lay Kay Kaw Myothit asked for food and shelter for the refugees and appealed for an immediate end of the fighting.