Thousands of vehicles trapped by fighting in Kayin State

By DMG 26 Dec 2022

DMG Newsroom
26 December 2022, Kawkareik, Kayin State

Thousands of vehicles are still trapped by fighting along a section of the Asian Highway linking Myawaddy and Kawkareik townships in Kayin (Karen) State.

Junta troops and resistance forces led by Brigade 6 of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) have been clashing since December 17 near the village of Kawnwe in Kawkareik Township, and bridges were damaged in the fighting. Some vehicles on the road have been stranded for more than a week.

One Yangon-to-Myawaddy long-distance bus driver said: “I have been stuck here for more than a week. I can’t turn back because vehicles are stuck.”

Cargo trucks involved in the border trade with Thailand are also stuck on the road, according to merchants.

“Cargo trucks have been stuck for more than a week,” said a border trader from the border town of Myawaddy. “We hope the road will be reopened soon. For now, we can only wait and see.”

The Tawnaw Waterfall Bridge on the Kawkareik-Myawaddy road was badly damaged by an explosion on December 16. The following day, a bridge near Kawnwe Village was hit and damaged by an artillery strike, according to Kawkareik residents.

“Myanmar military soldiers block off the Asian Highway, citing the fighting,” said a Kawkareik resident.

As of press time, junta troops and KNLA-led resistance forces were reportedly still fighting in the vicinity of Kawnwe Village.