A junta warship operating off the coast of Arakan (Rakhine) State caught fire and sank on August 10, according to local witnesses.

At around 3:00 pm that day, the naval vessel was shelling two villages near the border between southern Arakan State and Ayeyarwady Region when it caught fire. Prior to the blaze, it had been bombarding Kyaukchun Village in Arakan State’s Gwa Township and Bawmi Village in Ayeyarwady Region’s Pathein Township, an Arakan State resident reported.

“It caught fire while firing artillery, and it’s possible that some kind of error caused an explosion on the warship itself. The vessel kept moving toward Nanthar Kyun Island while burning, and then it sank,” he told DMG.

The burning warship attempted to reach Nanthar Kyun Island off Gwa Township but began sinking approximately 6,500 yards off the coast.

“The naval ship came from Thandwe City and was shelling Bawmi Village when it caught fire. It tried to stay afloat and keep moving, but eventually sank near Nanthar Kyun Island,” another witness said.

The junta has now imposed martial law in 63 towns nationwide, including areas under Arakan Army (AA) control in Arakan State. There, it has stepped up reinforcements via waterways and intensified naval artillery strikes on AA-held territories.

On August 2, junta warships launched artillery attacks on Ngapali Beach in AA-controlled Thandwe Township, causing several houses to catch fire.

In recent days, at least two junta warships have been patrolling coastal waters along the border between Arakan State and Ayeyarwady Region, with the junta navy closely monitoring Ngapali Beach.