An artillery fire broke out near a jetty in Angu Maw village, Rathedaung Township, yesterday morning at about 10 a.m. following a landmine detonation, local sources said.

“After the explosion of a landmine, shooting erupted near the jetty for about thirty minutes. Artillery fire erupted from a barge docked at the jetty and from the land area near the jetty.

The Navy’s vessel in the river also launched two rockets. We don’t know who was targeted,” said a local resident from Angu Maw village who asked not to be named.

During the salvo of gunfire, U Kyaw Win, 50, who was working in a watermelon farm, was hit by a stray bullet and died, local people said.

Ko Maung Bu from the jetty said that passengers had to suspend their ferry trips due to the gunfire.

Colonel Win Zaw Oo, chief of the Western Command, said that a landmine was detonated, but there was no report of casualties.

“A landmine exploded at the spot passengers get on and off their ferry. No villager was killed,” he said.

Villagers fled to neighboring villages and shops were closed because of the gunfire.