Kathmandu, Jul 12: At least 23 people were killed in an airstrike on a Buddhist monastery in Myanmar’s Sagaing region late Thursday night. The attack took place at a temple in Lin Ta Lu village, where over 150 civilians from nearby areas had taken shelter.

According to local media, a jet fighter dropped a bomb on the village temple around 1 AM. The strike left 30 others injured, including 10 in critical condition. Among the dead were four children.

It remains unclear who carried out the attack, and Myanmar’s military has not yet issued a statement. The Independent Democratic Voice of Burma reported that the death toll could rise further.

Myanmar has been in a state of civil war since February 2021, when the military ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The ongoing conflict has triggered a deep humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, over 17.6 million people need aid, more than 3 million have been displaced, and more than 75,000 have lost their lives.

The military regime has been accused of committing war crimes, including airstrikes, village burnings, and attacks against the Rohingya population. The conflict has also severely damaged Myanmar’s economy, causing an 18 percent decline and a sharp rise in hunger and poverty.