Bomb kills 9 at Myanmar new year party
Source: Agencies |
April 16, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THREE bombs ripped through traditional New Year festivities in Myanmar's biggest city of Yangon yesterday, killing nine people and injuring 94 others, officials and state television said.
There was no indication who was behind the blasts, which occurred at about 3pm near some 20 pavilions erected for the celebrations at the sprawling Kandawgyi Lake. Myanmar is celebrating the annual four-day water festival, when people drench each other with water to usher in the Myanmar New Year tomorrow.
State television and radio put the death toll at eight - five men and three women. It said 94 people including 30 women were injured. However, a hospital official said nine people were killed.
Television pictures from the site showed pools of blood and scattered sandals, left behind by fleeing revelers. The television broadcast described the blasts as the handiwork of "terrorists" but did not blame any group or organization. No one has claimed responsibility.
State TV also warned other revelers in the capital Naypyitaw, Yangon, Mandalay and other cities to be alert and to contact authorities if they have any information about the "terrorists."
Bombings are rare but not unknown in the cities of Myanmar, whose military rulers are fighting several insurgencies in remote provinces. The pro-democracy movement led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been based on the principle of nonviolence.
Witnesses said the emergency ward of Yangon General Hospital was sealed off to outsiders after at least 30 injured people were rushed there. One said the hospital was a scene of chaos and commotion.
There was no indication who was behind the blasts, which occurred at about 3pm near some 20 pavilions erected for the celebrations at the sprawling Kandawgyi Lake. Myanmar is celebrating the annual four-day water festival, when people drench each other with water to usher in the Myanmar New Year tomorrow.
State television and radio put the death toll at eight - five men and three women. It said 94 people including 30 women were injured. However, a hospital official said nine people were killed.
Television pictures from the site showed pools of blood and scattered sandals, left behind by fleeing revelers. The television broadcast described the blasts as the handiwork of "terrorists" but did not blame any group or organization. No one has claimed responsibility.
State TV also warned other revelers in the capital Naypyitaw, Yangon, Mandalay and other cities to be alert and to contact authorities if they have any information about the "terrorists."
Bombings are rare but not unknown in the cities of Myanmar, whose military rulers are fighting several insurgencies in remote provinces. The pro-democracy movement led by Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has been based on the principle of nonviolence.
Witnesses said the emergency ward of Yangon General Hospital was sealed off to outsiders after at least 30 injured people were rushed there. One said the hospital was a scene of chaos and commotion.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
