July 3, 2024
Amid intense clashes between the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and junta forces near Lashio, authorities have shut down Lashio Airport and canceled all flights indefinitely starting from July 3. The ongoing conflict has necessitated the suspension of flights to and from Lashio, including routes to Yangon, Mandalay, Tachileik, Myitkyina, and Heho.
The Lashio Airport had been previously closed for nearly four and a half months during the first phase of Operation 1027, only reopening on March 16, 2024. Now, just three and a half months after resuming operations, flight services are once again halted due to escalating violence in the region.
The clashes have brought fighting dangerously close to Lashio, with reports indicating that the junta has not allowed residents to evacuate the town. This morning, at around 8 a.m., a shell struck Ward 1, Thaya Street, resulting in the deaths of six family members. Following this incident, many residents are preparing to flee to safer areas.
The junta has blocked all access routes to and from Lashio, including the Man Pwe-Lashio Bridge, the Nam Sa River Suspension Bridge, and the Kholip Railway Bridge. Additionally, roads in the Kyauk Hoon, Namhpu, and Man Na villages have been dug up and destroyed, further complicating the situation for residents attempting to escape the conflict.
Residents in Lashio are finding it increasingly difficult to flee due to the destruction of these key routes and the heavy military presence in the area, leaving many trapped amid the ongoing violence.
