People in quarantine to forced to flee in panic as gunfire erupts in Kyauktaw

Tun Khaing (Taung Yin Kyun)
Narinjara News 3, September  2020

People undergoing quarantine in the Kyauktaw football stadium reportedly fled in fear after hearing the sounds of gunfire and shooting.

Maung Aye Saw, secretary of the Covid-19 monitoring and control committee in Kyauktaw, said, “We are now regrouping them. It is true that they ran away. The exact details are not yet known. We are discussing the issues now with those concerned. At the moment, we are trying to keep them separated as much as we can. We do not know when they fled. The gunfire was heard at around 11 p.m on Tuesday night,” he said.

He added that last night those who had fled had been forced to leave the area due continuous heavy artillery and small arms fire.

Regarding the matter, Kyauktaw Township State Hluttaw representative U Maung Maung said, “they didn’t escape. As the navy came up the river, there was shooting on all sides, raising concerns that the area was unsafe. If heavy artillery shells fall on the football field, there is a risk of insecurity, so it means they have to hide."

In Kyauktaw Township, nine people have been infected with the covid-19 virus and more than 60 people were being quarantined at the football stadium.

The Kyauktaw Township Administrator was contacted but did not return the call.