Bomb kills 4, injures 11 in Shan state

Four people have died and 11 were injured in a bomb blast near a pavilion built to host water festival events in Myanmar’s eastern Shan state.

Thursday morning’s explosion happened on the roadside at the entrance to Lashio, the state’s largest town, according to a rescue worker who asked not to be named for safety reasons..

“The dead bodies of four men have been found initially,” he told RFA, adding that eight men and three women were also injured. RFA is still trying to confirm their names and ages.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing and the junta has not issued a statement on the blast.

Calls  to the junta spokesperson for Shan state, Khun Thein Maung, went unanswered.

Thursday marks the start of Thingyan, new year’s eve in Myanmar and the start of the country’s water festival.

Many civilians have chosen not to take part this year due to the ongoing violence across the country, warnings by anti-regime militia to stay away, and a series of explosions at pavilions built by junta troops.

A Yangon-based anti-junta group said it set off bombs at Thingyan pavilions in three townships and People’s Square in Yangon city center last weekend.

No group claimed responsibility for blasts in Mandalay city and Mawlamyine city in Mon state, also at the weekend.

No one was hurt in those bombings.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn.