Clashes and explosions occurred in Payathonzu town in Myanmar’s southern Kayin state on Friday afternoon (May 10), prompting over 100 civilians, including children and the elderly, to seek safety across the border in Thailand. The skirmishes, which involved heavy weaponry and produced visible plumes of smoke, forced residents to evacuate to Phra Chedi Sam Ong village in Nong Lu subdistrict.
The conflict, lasting about 40 minutes, drew an immediate response from Thai authorities. Pol Col Paithoon Sriwilai, chief of Sangkhla Buri police, and Lt Col Atthaphol Phaesa-ard, commander of the 134th border patrol unit, coordinated efforts to ensure the safety of the refugees. They, along with their teams, were tasked with ongoing assessments and providing assistance to those displaced by the fighting.
As the disturbances died down, some evacuees began returning to Payathonzu, while approximately 40 individuals chose to stay in Thailand at a temporary shelter, citing continued safety concerns. Senior officials, including Pol Maj Gen Rungroj Thakoonpunyasiri, deputy commissioner of the Border Patrol Police Bureau, also conducted site visits to oversee the situation and ensure effective border management. No casualties were reported among those who fled. (NNT)
