At least 18 people were killed in central Myanmar after an airstrike struck Tabayin township in the Sagaing region on Friday evening, according to a local official, a rescue worker, and two residents who spoke with AFP.
The attack comes amid intensifying conflict across the country, which has endured relentless violence since the military seized power in a 2021 coup.
Local authorities reported that two bombs were dropped during the assault, with one landing directly on a busy teashop.
The official confirmed that 18 people lost their lives and 20 others were injured, noting that the high death toll resulted from the heavy crowd at the time of the blast.
All sources requested anonymity due to fears for their safety.
A rescue worker who arrived minutes after the explosion said seven victims died immediately, while 11 others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
He described the devastation, saying the teashop an important communal gathering spot in Myanmar and around a dozen nearby houses were “completely destroyed.”
One survivor, who had been watching a televised boxing match inside the teashop moments before the explosion, recalled hearing aircraft overhead.
He quickly dropped to the ground but was still shaken by the deafening blast. “I saw a big fire above me… I was lucky to escape,” he said.
Funeral ceremonies were held on Saturday, where some bodies were covered to conceal severe injuries that made them unrecognizable.
A resident expressed her grief, saying she personally knew several of the victims.
Sagaing has suffered repeated airstrikes in recent years.
In May, a junta air raid killed 22 people, including 20 children, despite the military’s announcement of a temporary ceasefire following a major earthquake.
A military spokesman did not respond to requests for comment on the latest attack.