Myanmar Junta Bombs Monastery Amid Earthquake Devastation Claims

Myanmar’s military junta conducted an airstrike on a monastery in Sagaing Region’s Tabayin township on April 12, killing five—including three child monks—and injuring nine, RFA reported. The attack reduced the Buddhist site to rubble, according to local aid groups. This occurred just before the junta claimed a March 28 earthquake destroyed nearly 10,000 religious buildings nationwide, including 5,000 stupas and 140 mosques, with over 3,600 fatalities.

Despite attributing damage to the 7.7-magnitude quake, the military has intensified aerial bombardments, targeting religious institutions like the Myoma Baptist Church in Chin State. The junta now mandates approval for reconstruction efforts, complicating aid delivery. Communities, such as Amarapura’s Muslim association, vow to rebuild despite restrictions.

The conflict-affected Sagaing and Mandalay regions face dual crises: ongoing military strikes and quake devastation. Over 50,000 Buddhist sites and minority places of worship dot Myanmar, though precise counts are obscured by war and access barriers.