Moetae Bridge in northern Shan State linking Hsipaw-Namsan- Namtu-Mongton was blasted on the evening of December 28, according to locals.

As a result, internally displaced people fleeing from the fighting in Namsan, Namtu, Mongton, Namkham and Muse are facing difficulties, according to IDPs.

“Moetae Bridge near border signboard between Namtu and Hsipaw was exploded on December 28. IDPs from Namsan, Namtu, Mongton, Namkham and Muse are in much difficulty. Nearly all the roads in Union Highway were destroyed. All of the locals from northern Shan State are fleeing from their homes as the clashes have been intensified in the area. Now the roads were destroyed and it made us more difficult from going back to our homes. IDPs from Muse heading to Mandalay are stranded in Panglon,” said an IDP.

Moetae Bridge is a main bridge connecting Hsipaw-Namsan-Namtu-Mongton. Eleven Media Group has been investigating who carried out the explosion. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) has issued a statement on December 29 that that they didn’t destroy the bridge. They also answered in some media interviews that they didn’t carry out the attack.

Locals of Moetae village are constructing makeshift road for temporary accessibility of the road using wood. Since the 1027 Operation started on October 27 at 4:00 am by the northern alliance forces, clashes have broken out between the Tatmadaw and the northern alliance forces.

Muse-Mandalay Union Highway and Chinshwehaw-Mandalay Union Highway were closed and prominent bridges were destroyed. As a result, transportations were inaccessible and as the clashes have been intensified, locals from northern Shan State were forced to flee from their homes.