More than 50 houses were destroyed by fire In Kawkareik township, Karen State, on 21 January, according to residents.

Around 3:00 p.m., a fire started on Yadanara Road, Ward No. 5, Kawkareik township.

Due to the conflict, many residents had fled the community, so there were not enough people remaining to put out the fire. The fire engine also failed to arrive in time, resulting in over 50 homes being engulfed in flames.

"There are no people in that place due to the war, they tried to put out the fire with the remaining people in the neighborhood, but they couldn't. All the houses were destroyed. The fire engine didn't come," said a resident of Kawkareik.

The fire was finally extinguished at  6:00 p.m.  

Fighting between the military junta and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), People's Defense Forces (PDF) joint forces started December 1st, 2023,  and has continued for more than a month.  House fires have occurred frequently, destroying in total, at least 200 homes.  

During the Kawkareik township battle, at least 20 local residents were killed  by the junta’s targeted mortar shelling and airstrikes.  Tens of thousands of residents have fled to Myawaddy, Hpa-An and Mawlamyine townships.