Four civilians in a rural village of Arakan State’s Minbya Township were injured and a home in another village was damaged by an artillery shell reportedly fired by the Myanmar military on the morning of September 27.

The injured in Setkayay Village have been identified as U San Goe Aung and U Kyin Kyan Aung, both in their 60s, Daw Hnaung Chay, 45, and Maung Aung Naing Lin aka Nar Kar Chay.

They were reportedly wounded when an artillery shell fired by junta soldiers landed and exploded in the village at about 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

“Four people were injured by shrapnel when an artillery shell hit a coconut tree while they were fleeing to a boat,” said a local resident. “Their condition is considered not life-threatening, they fled to a safer location by boat.”

The four people are currently taking refuge in Kyar Paik Kay Village, and are receiving medical treatment at a community clinic.

A home was also damaged after an artillery shell fired by junta troops landed and exploded in Khaung Laung Chaung Village on Tuesday morning.

“I don’t know where the heavy weapons are being fired from. A home was damaged after an artillery shell landed and exploded in the village. Most of the villagers have fled to safer locations following the shelling,” said a resident of Khaung Laung Chaung Village.

Two of the Myanmar military’s naval vessels coming from the direction of Sittwe were ambushed by the Arakan Army near Khaung Laung Chaung Village on September 26.

Following the AA’s ambush, the military attacked with two gunships at nearby villages such as Thetpone, Palepauk, Chaungshay, Setkayay and Kyarshaypyin, injuring three local people from Khaung Laung Chaung Village.

Hundreds of local people from six villages in Minbya Township have fled to safer locations since Tuesday’s incidents.