A Myanmar military airstrike near a market in Kyauktaw township, western Rakhine state, killed at least 49 people and injured 58 others on Monday.
The Arakan Army and local rescue officials reported the casualties, according to The Associated Press.
The attack occurred in territory controlled by the Arakan Army, an ethnic armed group seeking autonomy for Rakhine's ethnic minority.
The group has been fighting the military since the 2021 coup.
Market Attack and Casualties
The Arakan Army said a fighter jet dropped two bombs near the local market around noon, killing vendors, shoppers, and pedestrians.
Wai Hun Aung, a senior rescue official in Rakhine, confirmed the casualties to The Associated Press.
He described the market as the region's main wholesale center, attracting traders and shoppers from across the state.
"This is one of the most severe airstrikes in Rakhine," Wai Hun Aung said.
Photos and videos circulating on social media showed buildings on fire, damaged vehicles, and parts of a nearby bridge destroyed by the blasts.
Myanmar's military has not immediately commented on the attack.
It has previously claimed it targets only legitimate military objectives while accusing resistance groups of terrorism.
The Arakan Army warned it "will take effective retaliatory measures soon against the individuals and organizations directly responsible for the attacks involving deliberate airstrikes that have caused mass casualties."
Conflict and Displacement
Since the military ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, widespread opposition and armed resistance have plunged the country into civil conflict.
The Arakan Army launched an offensive in November 2023, capturing strategic military headquarters and most of Rakhine's townships.
The military has since imposed strict trade restrictions in the region, worsening food shortages.
In December, a military airstrike on a hospital in Rakhine's Mrauk-U township killed at least 34 people and wounded 80 others.
United Nations data indicate nearly half a million people have been displaced by the conflict in Rakhine.
The UN has condemned the deteriorating human rights situation, citing abuses against the Rohingya minority and the impact of illicit economic activities.
The protracted conflict has killed over 100,000 people, with both sides using drones in combat, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) project.
