[Myanmar] Bomb Blast Hits Traders Hotel in Rangoon

[News_Editor]

RANGOON—At approximately 11:15 at night, a small bomb ripped through a 9th story room at Traders Hotel, one of the nicest hotels in downtown Rangoon.

Max Mezezy of Hong Kong could be heard screaming for help for his wife, saying repeatedly, “Where’s the ambulance?† Both he and his two young sons were unharmed in the blast.  He carried his injured wife, bleeding profusely from wounds in her arms and thighs, out to a waiting van, which brought her to Rangoon General Hospital.  The family, only in Burma for a brief stay, was supposed to fly back tonight to Hong Kong where they currently live.

According to the police, the bomb was planted in the toilet of room 921.   Although the blast tore apart the bathroom, blew out the room’s window, and left ceiling panels hanging, the family’s two small sons, aged 5 and 7, don’t remember hearing anything, only waking up to see their mom lying on the floor bleeding.

The glass from the window pane was blown out several feet in front of the hotel.

Rangoon police and an army bomb disposal unit arrived within the hour and were carrying out an investigation.  Traders’ General Manager Phillip Couvarous delivered what he called a “holding statement†at 2:35 AM, saying that a guest had been taken to the hospital, but “because this is an active police investigation, we cannot comment further at this time.“

The victim’s condition is currently unknown.

Since Friday, a series of bombs has exploded across Burma.  This is the third explosion in Rangoon since Sunday.  A bomb exploded in Pegu Divison on Friday, killing two people and injuring one.

Burma is gearing up to host the 2013 Southeast Asia Games in early December and was recently appointed the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for 2014.

The post Bomb Blast Hits Traders Hotel in Rangoon appeared first on The Irrawaddy Magazine.

Source: Irrawaddy.org

[SeaVisionBurma]

Another article from BBC news here - not much more information though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24529045