Yangon-Mawlamyine trains suspended after bomb blast destroys rail bridge in Kyaikto Twsp

12 Feb 2022

DMG Newsroom
12 February 2022, Yangon

The rail bridge between Moatpalin and Sutpanu villages in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, was destroyed by the detonation of explosives planted by anti-regime forces on February 11, disrupting train services from Yangon to Mawlamyine, Ye and Dawei.

Some residents of Moatpalin village fled their homes when a large Myanmar military contingent conducted a search for those who detonated the railroad bomb, a resident told DMG.

“The explosion was in the early morning. We had to flee from home when we heard the military near the village was searching for the people who planted the bomb,” said the anonymous resident.

The affected railroad section connects Yangon and Mawlamyine. The number of running passenger trains has been reduced in the wake of the February 1, 2021 coup, and most train cars now transport goods.

On February 10, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) detonated explosives targeting a military convoy of about 10 vehicles that had departed from Mawlamyine to reinforce troops stationed elsewhere. The attack took place outside Ingabo village.

The two sides exchanged fire after the attack, damaging at least 10 houses and with artillery shells destroying three houses in Moatpalin village, according to a resident of Ingabo village.