Five injured by stray mortar shells crossing the border in Mae Sot

One Thai villager and four suspected Chinese scammers were injured by shrapnel from stray mortar shells fired by Myanmar and Karen rebel forces during heavy fighting in Myawaddy province of Myanmar on Friday.

One stray 81mm mortar shell smashed into Ban Mae Kone Kane of Mae Sot district, in Thailand’s Tak province, injuring the left shoulder of a 68-year old villager, identified as Som Champa, while he was working in the basement of his house.

He was rushed to the district hospital with the help of an emergency unit and border troops.

Shrapnel from the shell also caused minor damage to some of the houses and a car in the village.

Thai border troops fired smoke mortars into Myawaddy to warn the warring factions that their shells were straying over the border.

It is reported that four suspected Chinese scammers, who were taking refuge near the bank of the Moei River, opposite Mae Sot, were also slightly injured by shrapnel.

The four men later swam across the river to seek help. They were plucked from the river by Thai troops, who took them to a local hospital.

A number of Chinese nationals had escaped from the scam city at Shwe Kokko in Myawaddy, which came under attack by Myanmar forces and their Karen allies.

They had camped out on the bank of the Moei River while waiting for permission from Thai troops to cross the border. The troops refused, however, to grant them entry to Thailand.

Mae Sot district chief officer, Sanya Petchset, said he has advised villagers living close to the border to evacuate to shelters or to other safer places far from the border.