Multiple blasts rock Myanmar dam project

The explosions took place in the early hours at four locations where the Myitsone Dam is under construction in the country’s northernmost Kachin state, the official said on condition of anonymity.

“One engineer was slightly injured. Some cars and buildings were destroyed because of the blasts,” he said.

The blasts went off two days after three other bombs in the country’s main city Yangon killed eight people in the worst attack there in five years. The bombs went off at a park where revellers were celebrating an annual water festival, and led state media in the military-ruled nation to urge people to “remain vigilant against potential atrocities”.

The Myitsone Dam project has been under way since 2005 and is being built by Myanmar’s ruling junta in partnership with the China Power Investment Corporation and China Southern Power Grid Corporation.

Environmental and rights activists have campaigned against the dam, which is being built a mile below the confluence of two rivers to create a giant reservoir.