The boat carrying civilians capsizes, two children missing

By Phadu Tun Aung/ Aung Htein 19 Oct 2019

Phadu Tun Aung, Aung Htein/ DMG

October 19, Sittwe

On October 15, two children went missing after a boat capsized. The vessel was carrying a family who have been forced to flee from their home because of fighting which took place near Waithali Village of Mrauk-U Township since 9 a.m. in the morning, according to U Thar Sein, the Pyithu Hluttaw Represtantive of Mrauk-U Township.

While the family from Waithali was fleeing to Pyahla, also a village in Mrauk-U Township, their boat capsized in Nga-Swal-Gan creek and a 9th grade girl and a younger child went missing.

“As battles were taking place in Waithali, locals fled to Pipinyin and then to Pyahla. While they (the family) were going from Pipinyin to Pyahla by motorboat, the two kids drowned, I heard. The kids’ bodies have not been found yet,” he said.

The locals said that villagers of Waithali fled to nearby villages such as Pipinyin and Pyahla to avoid the fights.

Near Waithali, Lekka, and Pauktawpyin, firing has started since 6 a.m. in the morning and is still going on, a house burnt down, according to a local who wants to stay anonymous.

“We can see houses in the village are burning. We can see smoke coming out. Yet, we can’t go there. We are in shelters. We hear various weapons firing,” the anonymous source said.

Shops in Mrauk-U Myoma Market are closed down because of the battles and locals are very anxious, according to some locals.