A woman from Kyaung Taung village in Arakan State’s Mrauk-U Township died of a heart attack that her family says was caused by an artillery shell blast at about 9 p.m. on February 26.

 

U Hla Thein said that his wife, Daw Aye Chay, 58, suffered from heart disease and the shock of the nearby artillery explosion caused her to have a heart attack while she was together with family members at home.

 

“Nothing happened to her when a shell was fired from Pan Myaung Aung Mingalar hill. But when five or six shells fired from a Tatmadaw’s Mrauk-U unit landed and exploded about two furlongs away from our house, the blast was loud and scary. At that moment, my wife collapsed and died,” he said.

 

Locals are concerned for their security because of the artillery fire so close to their village.

 

“There are no clashes but we don’t know why they are firing. Residents in the village are so afraid. We don’t want the shells to land in and around the village. Just shoot at your enemies — don’t hurt the public,” Kyaung Taung resident Ko Maung Aye Tin said.

 

Fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army has plagued northern Arakan State since early December 2018, displacing more than 100,000 civilians.