Sittwe explosion geolocated as AI images and recycled footage spread online

On 23 October 2026, an explosion reportedly occurred in Sittwe Town, Rakhine State, at approximately 07:55 local time. Myanmar Witness identified 12 injuries and two fatalities. 

Online sources published conflicting accounts of what caused the explosion. Hmine Wai, a pro-military Telegram Channel, alleged that the explosion was triggered by Arakan Army (AA) 120mm artillery. Development Media Group (DMG) reported that a Myanmar Air Force (MAF) Y-12 aircraft dropped bombs on at least three locations in Sittwe. Myanmar Witness could not verify either account.

Pro-military sources also circulated AI-generated images and recycled footage from earlier dates, presenting them online as relating to the explosion. These materials should not be treated as authentic documentation of the incident. 

Confirming where and when the explosion occurred

Myanmar Witness geolocated the incident with high confidence to the junction of Min Bar Gyi Road and Merchant Road in Sittwe Town. The location is consistent with post-explosion imagery, CCTV footage, and BBC Burmese reporting. 

Myanmar Witness assessed the time of the explosion as approximately 07:55 local time, with medium confidence. CCTV footage shared by Truth Waves includes a timestamp of 07:55 and shows the explosion at the geolocated junction. DMG reported that it occurred around 08:00.

An additional image of a deceased individual has the same timestamp of 07:55. The shadow direction and its length in the image are consistent with this time within a 30-minute window, based on analysis using SunCalc. Reverse-image searches indicated that the relevant UGC first appeared online on  23 October 2026. Myanmar Witness therefore assesses that the available visual, temporal, and reporting evidence is mutually consistent.

Myanmar Witness found UGC circulating that was AI-generated or used recycled footage. UGC circulated by pro-military source Hmine Wai could not be verified as accurately depicting the incident. One image, posted at 09:04 local time, showed several visual inconsistencies. Road markings were inconsistent with typical roads in Myanmar, buildings did not match satellite imagery of the reported location, and facial, gesture, and clothing features were consistent with AI-generated imagery.

A video posted on 20 October 2026 by a pro-AA Facebook page, We Love ULA/AA, depicts what appears to be AA personnel firing a rocket. Truth Waves included this video in its 23 October 2026 footage compilation and presented it as evidence of an alleged AA attack on the Sittwe area. 

Myanmar Witness identified that the video was made publicly available at least three days before the Sittwe explosion, and geolocated the scene of the video to near Htaunt Chaung Gyi village. Investigators also identified a potential original version of the same footage circulating online as early as October 2025, suggesting the recording itself likely predates 2026.

Myanmar Witness assesses that the footage is both geographically misattributed and temporally inconsistent with the reported incident. It should not be used as evidence of the 23 October 2026 explosion.

Two deaths confirmed, at least 12 injured

Myanmar Witness visually confirmed two fatalities from UGC posted online by Hmine Wai. One image shows an apparent male fatality with a severe traumatic head injury. Another shows an apparent male fatality with further extensive blood visible around the upper body. The injuries are consistent with a high-force mechanism, such as an explosion, but the exact cause of death cannot be determined from the available imagery alone. 

Hmine Wai also uploaded imagery showing injured people at a medical facility. Myanmar Witness manually counted at least 12 injured individuals, including three females. While these injuries are assessed as consistent with a wide-impact event, investigators could not verify whether every uploaded image was caused by this specific incident. 

What fragments and footage can and can’t show

Hmine Wai uploaded images of munition fragments that were reportedly recovered from the incident scene. From the imagery, Myanmar Witness assessed that two fragments were likely fuse fragments from mortar rounds. However, the lack of measurements or other reference objects prevents a true calibre assessment, and Myanmar Witness could not verify that the fragments were accurately connected to this incident. 

CCTV footage of the explosion also shows a more contained blast with limited apparent blast effects. This is consistent with the impact of a mortar or artillery round, rather than a rocket, which typically produces a flatter trajectory and a larger blast radius. However, this observation alone does not establish the weapon system used.

Myanmar Witness could not determine the actor responsible for the explosion, which occurred during ongoing clashes between the Myanmar military and the AA in and around Sittwe Township. Since 4 September 2026, pro-military sources have reported military drone attacks on AA positions in Sittwe, Ponnagyun, and Kyaukphyu townships, under the name ‘Operation 4926’. Myanmar Witness has not independently verified these claims, and this still does not establish responsibility for this specific incident. 

Myanmar Witness will continue to monitor and assess pro-military and pro-AA reports on the incident, as well as local media and UGC, and developments of Operation 4926 in that area.