A tragic boat accident on the Lay Myo River claimed the lives of nine people, including an eight-year-old child, on the evening of May 12.

The victims were primarily residents of Aung Taing Muslim Village. They were returning home from a soccer match in Shan Taung Village, located in neighboring Mrauk U Township, when their vessel capsized around 7:30 p.m. between Shwe Ta Mar and Aung Taing villages.

"Approximately 100 villagers from Aung Taing were returning in two boats, with about 50 passengers on each," a resident from Shwe Ta Mar village reported. "One of the overcrowded boats sank in the river channel."

The deceased were identified as Ilya (8 years old), Daw (50 years old), Numamauk (30 years old), Sarukhin (18 years old), Abu Kothidi (18 years old), Mamatufai (38 years old), and Sirad Islam (19 years old) from Paung Tok (Muslim) village. Adu Waheik (18) and Mammoth Rohim (15) from Myebon (IDP Camp).

With the onset of the monsoon season, the Arakan Revolutionary People’s Government has issued an urgent public safety advisory.

Authorities warned residents to exercise extreme caution when traveling or living near waterways, citing heightened risks of flash floods, strong currents, fluctuating water levels, and landslides across Rakhine State.