Shelling hits Sittwe General Hospital, fueling panic among residents

By Admin 07 Mar 2026

DMG Newsroom

7 March 2026, Sittwe

Fears are mounting among residents in Sittwe after heavy artillery shells struck the General Hospital in the state capital controlled by the junta early Saturday morning.

An artillery shell hit a medical warehouse within the hospital compound at around 5 a.m. on March 7, causing a fire. The explosion triggered panic among residents living near the facility.

“The shell landed right on the medical warehouse inside the hospital, and it caught fire. Another shell landed near Basic Education High School No. 4 and the law office. We haven’t been able to confirm any casualties yet,” a male resident of Sittwe told DMG.

While details regarding injuries or deaths remain unconfirmed, reports indicate that shrapnel from the blasts also struck the area in front of the Sittwe Court and Basic Education High School No. 4.

“Shrapnel hit No. 4 High School. There is heavy aircraft activity overhead right now, and the town is in a state of chaos. There are also reports of two unexploded bombs still at the scene,” another resident said.

Tensions have escalated in Sittwe as the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) engage in fierce clashes nearby. Residents, who hear the sound of heavy artillery daily, say their anxiety has intensified.

Despite the life-threatening risks posed by shelling inside the city, many locals say they are forced to leave their homes for work due to soaring commodity prices and the collapse of the local economy.

“Everyone is terrified, especially now that shells are falling inside the city. But people still have to go out for their daily survival. Jobs are scarce and prices are incredibly high in Sittwe; we have to risk our lives just to eat,” a local woman said.

As fighting intensified in early March, the military regime reportedly evacuated more than 400 junta personnel and their family members from Sittwe to mainland Myanmar by sea on March 3.

The Arakan Army is currently launching a dual land-and-sea offensive against the Shwe Mingan naval station north of Sittwe, while the regime continues to mount a defense with heavy artillery support.