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Investigators document 80 air attack incidents since Myanmar earthquake, despite junta ceasefire

April 28, 2025/in News

Mizzima One month on from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, investigators at the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) Myanmar Witness project have documented 80 air attack incidents across multiple regions, despite a temporary ceasefire declared by the Myanmar junta or State Administration Council (SAC) on 2 April 2025. The incidents documented include both potential airstrikes […]

Releases New Briefing Paper

April 28, 2025/in Press Releases and Statements

The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma Releases New Briefing Paper,Beneath the Cracks: Devastation and Destruction by the Juntain the Earthquake Aftermath 28 April 2025 One month ago, on 28 March 2025, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred in Burma, severely impacting the Sagaing region and Mandalay as well as neighbouring states and townships. […]

Investigators document 80 air attack incidents since Myanmar earthquake, despite junta ceasefire

April 28, 2025/in News

Releases New Briefing Paper

April 28, 2025/in Press Releases and Statements

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Investigators document 80 air attack incidents since Myanmar earthquake, despite junta ceasefire

April 28, 2025/in News

Mizzima

One month on from the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, investigators at the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) Myanmar Witness project have documented 80 air attack incidents across multiple regions, despite a temporary ceasefire declared by the Myanmar junta or State Administration Council (SAC) on 2 April 2025. The incidents documented include both potential airstrikes and paramotor attacks – aerial attacks involving small motorised paragliders.

The 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March, causing severe damage to homes and infrastructure and reportedly affecting more than two million people. Analysis carried out by Myanmar Witness at the time documented how the SAC continued its attacks in the emergency-declared areas of Myanmar following the natural disaster, with one incident reportedly occurring just minutes after the earthquake struck.

Attacks continued in the seven-day mourning period announced by the SAC between 31 March and 6 April, and following the ceasefire declaration. The Myanmar Air Force (MAF) is the only actor in the conflict with access and capacity to use aircraft capable of carrying out an airstrike.

Between 28 March and 24 April, 80 air attack incidents were logged by Myanmar Witness. Incidents range in severity and vary in terms of levels of confidence. Not all have been fully confirmed or geolocated due to a lack of open source material.

Of these, 65 events were recorded following the ceasefire declaration on 2 April. Incidents took place across 12 different states and regions, indicating the wide geographical scope of the military operations. 51 townships were impacted.

The states with the highest number of documented incidents were Sagaing (24), Mandalay (14), and Chin and Kayin (8 each).

Notably, several incidents assessed as likely airstrikes or heavy weapon attacks took place between 31 March 2025 and 1 April 2025, during the national mourning period and just hours before the SAC’s ceasefire began. These include the bombing of Indaw Myoma Monastery, Sagaing, on 1 April, and on the same day, the bombing of Loi Hkwin village in Shan State.

Three separate airstrike incidents were documented on 9 April 2025 in Sagaing Region and Chin State. These reportedly resulted in dozens of civilian casualties, including women and children, and significant infrastructure damage.

Nan Khan village tract, in Wuntho, Sagaing, was reportedly hit twice on 9 April – first at approximately 15:00 and again at around 18:00 local time. Over 20 civilians, including children, were reportedly killed, although the exact number remains unconfirmed at the time of writing. User-generated content (UGC) of the damage areas – which Myanmar Witness cross-referenced with satellite imagery – is consistent with reports of the two separate airstrikes occurring on the same day.

Robert Dolan, Myanmar Witness project director, said: “Myanmar’s population was already on its knees after years of SAC aggression and armed conflict. The layers of suffering are hard to comprehend – we’ve seen regions wrecked by war and then the earthquake, only to sustain further damage from continued airstrikes.

“The open-source data we’ve compiled – and the scale of the incidents documented – raise serious doubts about the SAC’s sincerity in declaring a ceasefire in the first place, and highlight what appears to be a complete disregard for civilian lives at a time when communities are already so vulnerable.”

An FCDO Spokesperson said: “We are appalled to see this evidence of ongoing airstrikes by the military regime during their ceasefire and at a time of national disaster.

“All attacks on civilians must stop now. Once again, we call for all actors to protect civilians in Myanmar, for unimpeded humanitarian access, and for the military regime to uphold the ASEAN Five Point Consensus, which remains critical in finding a path to peace in Myanmar.”

To carry out the analysis, Myanmar Witness gathered UGC from social media and news outlets, triangulating images and videos with satellite imagery where possible. The documented air attack incidents have been published today in an interactive, open-source map on the CIR website, though publication of the full dataset is ongoing.

Several incidents, especially from the post-ceasefire period, remain unconfirmed or categorised as low confidence due to the absence of verifiable UGC. This is partly due to an apparent rise in reporting delays, where information surfaces several days after an incident.

Since the 2021 military coup, internet access has been heavily restricted in regions such as Chin, Kayah and Sagaing, where armed clashes, potential human rights abuses, and earthquake-related displacement are ongoing. Such connectivity issues continue to hinder the availability of timely and reliable reporting from the ground. Myanmar Witness continues to monitor the situation.

Releases New Briefing Paper

April 28, 2025/in Press Releases and Statements

The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma Releases New Briefing Paper,
Beneath the Cracks: Devastation and Destruction by the Junta
in the Earthquake Aftermath

28 April 2025

One month ago, on 28 March 2025, a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred in Burma, severely impacting the Sagaing region and Mandalay as well as neighbouring states and townships. Damage was extensive and widespread, with estimates from the United Nations that at least 2.5 million tonnes of debris needed to be removed. Despite the destruction, the military junta did not cease its attacks on innocent civilians, including survivors of the earthquake, prompting outrage and calls for international and regional actors to support vulnerable communities.

In the latest briefing paper by the Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma (ND-Burma), titled “Beneath the Cracks: Devastation and Destruction by the Junta

in the Earthquake Aftermath,” member organizations provided data and context for the human rights violations perpetrated by the junta.

Civilians remain in distress due to the escalating shelter crisis, with survivors hesitant to return to their respective homes because of the junta’s presence. The regime’s assaults commenced within 48 hours following the natural disaster, leaving many grappling to rebuild their lives after losing their homes, possessions, and loved ones. The actions of the junta are in clear violation of international laws and humanitarian principles. In addition to targeting affected communities, relief convoys attempting to deliver life-saving assistance were also fired upon.

Several ND-Burma member organizations, including the Chin Human Rights Organization, the Pa-O Youth Organization, the Human Rights Foundation of Monland, and the Ta’ang Students and Youth Union, all documented extensive cases of attacks against civilians in the days and weeks which followed the earthquake. Amid the ongoing assaults, the junta exploited the natural disaster for their political agenda, prompting several trips to Bangkok, Thailand, to engage with ASEAN leaders in what have proven to be more futile attempts in their bid for legitimacy.

As people in Burma struggle to survive, there remain many unmet needs that are intentionally overlooked and dismissed by the junta as the regime moves to limit the scope of assistance being offered by international and regional relief groups. Their inhumane actions are only the latest in their mismanagement and corrupt rule of the country, which has continued to be embroiled in a worsening conflict and humanitarian crisis, fueled by the military’s selfishness, greed and complete disregard for innocent lives.

Furthermore, this briefing paper outlines the background of the earthquake and the situation that developed immediately afterward. Cases and data from ND-Burma members clearly indicate that the junta continues to engage in war crimes and crimes against humanity. We call for urgent action and accountability in response to the ongoing attacks in the country, which should include a global arms embargo and targeted sanctions on aviation fuel.

The people of Burma have suffered immensely since the failed coup, and during the decades prior in which the military has long sought violent control. There must be an end to the suffering of innocent communities through a coordinated response by international actors.

For more information:

Nai Aue Mon

Signal: +66 86 1679 741

San Htoi

Signal no: +66 64 9369 070

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The Network for Human Rights Documentation-Burma (ND-Burma) consists of 13 organisations representing a range of ethnic nationalities, women, and former political prisoners. Since 2004, ND-Burma member organisations have been documenting human rights abuses and fighting for justice for victims. The network has nine full members and four affiliate members.

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ND Burma

ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.

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The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma Releases New Briefing Paper,Beneath the Cracks: Devastation and Destruction by the Juntain the Earthquake Aftermath

ND Burma

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The Network for Human Rights Documentation – Burma Releases New Briefing Paper,
Beneath the Cracks: Devastation and Destruction by the Junta
in the Earthquake Aftermath