An estimated 28,000 southern Shan State civilians have fled Mobye town due to street fighting between Myanmar’s regime and resistance groups.
On early Tuesday, many military vehicles, including armoured vehicles, carrying over 200 reinforcements deployed across Mobye, randomly shooting at civilian housing, according to residents.
Fighting between regime forces and several people’s defense forces (PDFs) and the Karenni National Resistance Forces from Pekon Township in Shan State and neighboring Demoso and Loikaw townships in Kayah State began on Wednesday morning, according to the Mobye PDF, which was involved in the fighting.
On Wednesday clashes, at least seven regime troops were killed and two resistance fighters suffered minor injuries. A civilian house was flattened by junta artillery, resistance groups claimed.
Photos showed a burning house and others damaged by explosives.
The Irrawaddy could not independently verify any of the reports.
Mobye has more than 28,000 residents, according to the General Administration Department.
The town is now largely deserted since resistance groups asked residents to leave.
“Nearly the whole town has fled since regime forces arrived. We are also trying to evacuate any trapped civilians,” a charity worker of the Mobye Rescue Team told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.
Fighting continued on Thursday.
A woman resident was seriously injured in her leg by junta artillery and a resistance fighter was killed in the clash, according to the charity.
Six civilians, including a child, were injured by regime bombardments, it said.
A Mobye PDF representative told The Irrawaddy on Thursday: “There were military casualties. The junta cut off all internet access this morning.”
Division 66 is trying to control the whole town, according to the PDF.
Resistance groups urged civilians to avoid the roads which are linked to Mobye.
Mobye PDF told The Irrawaddy that the heavy deployment points to the township’s strategic importance because of its proximity to Naypyitaw, where the junta leaders live.
More than 4,000 residents from Mobye and Pekon townships fled in early November last year when the junta stepped up indiscriminate attacks on resistance forces and civilians.
