Streets in Sittwe Fall Silent After Dusk Following Military Bombing

Narinjara, October 24, 2026

Once-bustling locations in Sittwe, including markets, teashops, traditional Rakhine noodle shops, and roadside stalls, are seeing a sharp decline in dine-in customers. By dusk, the city's streets become completely deserted and silent.

"As soon as the sun sets, there is no one left on the streets. Everything is empty and quiet; no one goes out anymore," a local resident remarked.

Fear and anxiety have gripped Sittwe residents after a military Y-12 aircraft dropped two bombs onto a crowded area of the city at 8:00 AM on October 23.

"No one feels safe in Sittwe anymore," a local source added. "People aren't going out, and they aren't dining in at shops. We’ve noticed a major increase in people buying food to take away instead."

Reports indicate that those remaining in the city are watching one another with deep apprehension and mutual suspicion.

As intense fighting erupts on the outskirts of Sittwe, the sound of gunfire between the AA and the Myanmar military is fueling anxiety among local residents.

The source further noted a recent reshuffle among state police commanders, with several Rakhine police officers previously stationed in Nay Pyi Taw now being transferred back to Sittwe.

While the definitive reason for the shakeup remains unclear, locals suspect that higher-ranking Rakhine commanders are being deployed to Sittwe to enforce tighter control due to a lack of trust in lower-ranking local personnel.