Two Fishing Boats Fired Upon and Destroyed by Navy Vessels in Wira Thani
Narinjara, September 17, 2026
Two fishing boats were set on fire and destroyed by military navy vessels near the northern tip of Mye Ngu Island (also known as San Taw Shin Island) in in Wira Thani (Pauktaw) Township, according to local sources.
Locals reported that two junta navy vessels began firing continuously around 10:00 AM on September 16 while operating near the northern tip of Mye Ngu Island, downstream from Kular Thein village.
"Two fishing boats were destroyed by fire during the navy attack," a local resident stated. "The incident occurred downstream from Kular Thein village. The two destroyed vessels belonged to Muslim fishermen from Sin Tet Maw village. Rakhine fishing boats from Praine Taung village were also fired upon, but they managed to escape without sustaining damage."
As the navy vessels fired toward villages like Kular Thein and Soe Mae Gyi, terrified residents fled their homes to seek refuge in nearby hills and forests.
"Around 12:00 PM yesterday, the two navy vessels—which had been anchored at the mouth of the sea off the tip of Mye Ngu Island—steered close to the Soe Mae Gyi village jetty," another local villager told Narinjara. "They opened fire with both heavy artillery and small arms. Some boat workers and fishermen sank along with their motorized boats."
He added that while most villagers managed to escape by fleeing as soon as they saw the navy vessels approaching, the status of those onboard the fishing boats remains unknown. Another resident confirmed that the assault on the jetty caused widespread panic, forcing villagers to flee to neighboring areas.
"Of course, we were terrified," the resident said. "Shells were landing and exploding right near the village. When they came close and opened fire while boatmen were working, everyone was scared and ran away."
The current situation on the ground remains difficult to verify due to widespread disruptions in phone and internet services. However, reports indicate that island residents continue to flee coastal villages in Pauktaw Township to escape heavy artillery fire, airstrikes, and ongoing shelling from military battalions based in Sittwe.
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