2018 Lashio bombing

Last updated
2018 Lashio bombing
Location Lashio, Shan State, Myanmar
Coordinates 22°56′17″N97°44′47″E / 22.938062°N 97.746330°E / 22.938062; 97.746330 Coordinates: 22°56′17″N97°44′47″E / 22.938062°N 97.746330°E / 22.938062; 97.746330
Date21 February 2018
4:30 pm (UTC+6:30)
Attack type
Bombing
Deaths2
Injuries
22

The 2018 Lashio bombing was a bomb blast in the town of Lashio, in northern Shan State, Myanmar, that killed two employees of Yoma Bank and injured 22 others.

Bomb explosive weapon

A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanical stress, the impact and penetration of pressure-driven projectiles, pressure damage, and explosion-generated effects. Bombs have been utilized since the 11th century starting in East Asia.

Lashio Town in Shan State, Myanmar

Lashio is the largest town in northern Shan State, Myanmar, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) north-east of Mandalay. It is situated on a low mountain spur overlooking the valley of the Yaw River. Loi Leng, the highest mountain of the Shan Hills, is located 45 km (28 mi) to the south-east of Lashio.

Shan State State in East central, Myanmar

Shan State is a state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south, and five administrative divisions of Burma in the west. Largest of the 14 administrative divisions by land area, Shan State covers 155,800 km2, almost a quarter of the total area of Burma. The state gets its name from Burmese name for the Tai people: "Shan people". The Shan constitute the majority among several ethnic groups that inhabit the area. Shan is largely rural, with only three cities of significant size: Lashio, Kengtung, and the capital, Taunggyi. Taunggyi is 150.7 km northeast of the nation's capital Naypyitaw.

Contents

Background

Bombings are not uncommon in Shan State, where there is an ongoing conflict between the government of Myanmar and various insurgent groups. However, bombings tend to be small-scale and civilian casualties are rare. [1]

Bombing

At around 4:30 pm (MMT) on 21 February 2018, a bomb exploded between two banks, Yoma Bank and Aya Bank, immediately killing two employees of the former. [1] [2] Twenty-two others were injured in the blast. [3] [4] [5]

Myanmar Standard Time (MMT) is the standard time in Myanmar, 6:30 hours ahead of UTC (UTC+06:30). MMT is calculated on the basis of 97° 30' longitude. MMT is used all year round as Myanmar does not observe daylight saving time.

Ayeyarwady Bank

Ayeyarwady Bank Ltd. is a private bank in Myanmar. AYA Bank was established on 2 July 2010 with the permission of the Central Bank of Myanmar. The AYA Bank's head office is located in the Rowe Building Kyauktada Township of Yangon.

Aftermath

On 23 February 2018, the government of Shan State announced it would compensate victims of the bombing, offering 500,000 kyats ($375 USD) to the families of the two deceased and 200,000 to 300,000 kyats to those injured. [6]

Burmese kyat currency of Myanmar

The kyat is the currency of Myanmar (Burma). It is often abbreviated as "K" or "Ks" (plural), which is placed before or after the numerical value, depending on author preference.

United States dollar Currency of the United States of America

The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States and its territories per the United States Constitution since 1792. In practice, the dollar is divided into 100 smaller cent (¢) units, but is occasionally divided into 1000 mills (₥) for accounting. The circulating paper money consists of Federal Reserve Notes that are denominated in United States dollars.

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References

  1. 1 2 Aung, Thu Thu; Naing, Shoon (2018). "Two dead, 22 hurt from bomb blast in northeast Myanmar city Lashio". Reuters . Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  2. "Explosion at bank in northern Myanmar kills 2, wounds 21". Vancouver Sun. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  3. Beech, Hannah; Nang, Saw (21 February 2018). "A Bombing in Northern Myanmar Signals Strife Beyond the Rohingya". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  4. "Bomb blast kills two women bank staff in Lashio township". The Myanmar Times. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  5. "Bomb attacks in Myanmar's northern state affect govt's effort on national reconciliation: Aung San Suu Kyi". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  6. "Shan state govt pledges compensation to victims of Lashio bomb blast- DVB Multimedia Group". DVB Multimedia Group. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.