Historic Myanmar Bridge Destroyed in Fighting

Historic Myanmar Bridge Destroyed in Fighting
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The historic Gokteik bridge in Myanmar, a colonial-era railway trestle, was destroyed in recent fighting, with the ruling military junta and rebel forces blaming each other for its destruction, The Guardian reported.

The bridge, which opened in 1901, was once the tallest railway trestle in the world. It is located in the northern Shan State and is a key part of the Mandalay-Lashio railway line. The junta claims that rebel forces, including the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), bombed the bridge. The TNLA, however, denies the accusation and states that the Myanmar army’s own drone strike accidentally hit the structure.

Videos and photos shared on social media show the bridge partly collapsed, a significant blow to a structure that was also a popular tourist attraction. The destruction is part of the ongoing civil war in Myanmar following a 2021 coup.