Powerful explosions shake Teknaf border areas
Three powerful explosions inside Myanmar across the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar caused houses and buildings on the Bangladesh side to shake violently on Saturday night (27 December).
The blasts were strongly felt in the border villages of Hoyaikong and Hnila unions in Teknaf upazila. Residents reported that the intensity of the explosions made it seem like an earthquake had struck.
According to sources, clashes between Myanmar’s military junta and the Arakan Army continue in Rakhine State. The junta has been conducting continuous attacks to recapture towns and villages under Arakan Army control, while the Arakan Army has been carrying out counterattacks.
On Saturday night, three successive powerful explosions were heard. It is learnt that the junta carried out air strikes in the Bolibazar area of Rakhine.
Local resident Md Abdul Hamid from Hoyaikong border said that after 10:30 pm on Saturday, three powerful explosions occurred one after another on the Myanmar side of the Rakhine border. His house and surrounding buildings shook violently.
He added: “It felt like the house would collapse from an earthquake. In such a situation, I came out of the house with my family and stayed outside.”
Another resident, Md Ali from Hnila, said the deafening sounds of the explosions from across the border threw everyone into extreme panic.
He further said: “Suddenly, one explosion after another shook the entire area. Children and elderly people inside the houses started screaming in fear.”
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Imamul Hafiz Nadim said that he was informed of the matter that night and immediately contacted the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
At the same time, chairmen of the relevant union parishads have been instructed to alert residents in the border areas and take necessary measures to ensure their safety.
