MAWLAMYAING----Fighting between Tatmadaw and Brigade-6 of Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its allies occurred in Kyarinseikgyi Township, Kayin State, since the beginning of January 3rd night forcing tens of thousands of locals fleeing their homes as well as two civilians were injured during the fighting, according to the locals.

The dweller from Kyarinseikgyi Township said that intensified clashes took place in 283, 284 and 32 Light Infantry Divisions situated in the Kayin’s Kyarinseikgyi Township at night of January 3rd. There had been shooting the whole night. Around 3am, the fighting stopped a moment. But, shooting started again in the morning.

Due to the fighting, thousands of locals had fled their homes and some had hidden at their homes. Moreover, the villagers nearby Kyarinseikgyi Township fled to safer places, according to the locals.

“As heavy weapons exploded at the whole night of January 3rd , many locals urgently fled to safer places. Although fighting was silent at a moment in the morning of January 4th, no one dared to return home,” said one of the locals from Kyarinseikgyi Township.

Around 3,000 locals had fled to safety due to the fighting between the Tatmadaw and KNLA’s Brigade 6 and their allies at the Taungzun village in Kyainseikgyi Township (Winre Township, Duplaya District of Karen National Union (KNU) in Kayin State since the beginning of December 31st night from January 3rd of 2023, according to locals.