A bombing attack at a Buddhist festival in Myanmar’s Sagaing region resulted in at least 40 deaths and 80 injuries, according to reports from human rights groups and officials in exile. The incident took place during a candlelight vigil on Monday, October 6, 2025, when around 100 people gathered in Chaung-U Township to celebrate the Thadingyut full moon ceremony, a significant Buddhist holiday.
The attack began around 8:00 p.m. local time, with Myanmar’s military junta using motorized paragliders to drop bombs on the assembly. A second bombing occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m., resulting in widespread destruction. The vigil was organized to protest military rule and demand the release of arbitrarily detained prisoners, oppose military conscription, and criticize a junta-organized election planned for December.
Joe Freeman, a researcher for Amnesty International focused on Myanmar, mentioned that the number of casualties might increase as some victims were severely damaged, making identification challenging. Freeman noted that survivors are being treated in local hospitals, with casualties including children, students, and individuals in their fifties.
A spokesperson from Myanmar’s government-in-exile informed BBC Burmese that 47 individuals were wounded in the bombings. The official explained that the event organizers were warned of a possible airborne attack and tried to disperse attendees quickly, but the motorized paraglider arrived within minutes. The assault lasted around seven minutes, during which the official sustained leg injuries.
A woman involved in organizing the event shared details with the AFP news agency, describing how the blast affected children. She reported that authorities were still collecting body parts after the bombing. Funerals for some victims took place on Tuesday, October 7, though several bodies remain unidentified due to the extent of the damage.
The targeted area in Chaung-U Township is within the Sagaing Region, controlled by anti-government militias known as the People’s Defence Force. These groups actively resist the military junta, which overthrew the government in 2021, leading to frequent violent confrontations and retaliatory strikes against civilians by junta forces.
Freeman described the bombing as part of a concerning pattern, emphasizing the impact on children. He highlighted the necessity of civilian protection in Myanmar, pointing out that the military exploits diminishing global attention to commit acts of violence without repercussions. The use of motorized paragliders is among the tactics employed to target civilians.
The human rights researcher stated that this incident is the latest in a series of attacks ongoing since the 2021 coup. Freeman emphasized that there were no clashes in the village, identifying the bombing as a direct attack on civilians warranting investigation as a war crime, amid numerous similar incidents in Myanmar.
Freeman urged the Association for Southeast Asian Nations to apply pressure on the junta to cease violent attacks on civilians in the area. He noted that the military is intensifying efforts to consolidate power through a tightly controlled election planned for later this year, escalating its campaign against resistance pockets.
The Amnesty International researcher also called on the UN Security Council to refer Myanmar’s situation to the International Criminal Court. The military junta has not commented publicly on the bombing, maintaining silence following such civilian-targeted attacks.
Since the military’s takeover in February 2021, overthrowing the elected leadership, Myanmar has faced ongoing unrest and conflict. The bombing marks the latest escalation in the military’s campaign against resistance-controlled areas. Human rights organizations have documented numerous attacks on civilian gatherings, religious ceremonies, and community events across the country since the coup nearly four years ago.