Myanmar military kills 6 in ‘double-tap’ airstrikes on Sagaing dam

Myanmar’s military junta carried out “double-tap” airstrikes on small-scale gold-mining operations at a dam in Sagaing Region, killing at least six people, according to reports from local sources and independent media.

The strikes targeted artisanal gold-mining rafts operating on the reservoir of the Thaphanseik (also spelled Thahpanseik or Thaphan Seik) Dam, primarily in Kyunhla Township. These operations, often run by internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing conflict in nearby areas such as Kawlin, Kyunhla, and Kanbalu townships, provide livelihoods for civilians and generate income that supports local resistance forces opposing the military regime.

According to accounts, the attacks involved multiple bombing runs by fighter jets, consistent with the “double-tap” tactic in which an initial strike is followed by a second attack timed to hit rescuers, first responders, or people gathering at the scene. Such tactics have been documented in previous junta air operations and are widely condemned by human rights groups as potentially constituting war crimes.

Related reporting indicated that strikes began on the afternoon of October 5, with jets reportedly flying from the direction of Homalin, carrying out repeated bombardments that set multiple rafts ablaze. Some sources put the death toll higher, with at least 10 confirmed killed and others wounded or missing as search efforts continued, while financial losses from destroyed equipment were estimated in the hundreds of millions of Myanmar kyat. The area around the dam has served as a refuge for displaced civilians who turned to gold mining after losing other means of support.

Sagaing Region has been a major center of resistance since the 2021 military coup. The junta has frequently used airstrikes against civilian areas, mining sites, villages, and infrastructure under resistance control. Gold mining in resistance-held zones has become a particular target, as it helps fund anti-junta forces.

The Thaphanseik Dam itself has changed hands multiple times amid the conflict and remains strategically and economically significant for irrigation and local power generation. Independent verification of casualty figures remains difficult due to restricted access and ongoing fighting in the region.

The military has not issued an immediate public statement on the specific incident. The broader pattern of aerial attacks continues to draw international criticism for their impact on civilians.