Thailand trying to rescue 162 nationals as tens of thousands flee Myanmar fighting

Members of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army walking past a Myanmar military base in Shan state on Oct 28 after seizing it. - PHOTO: AFP

BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand is trying to bring home 162 of its nationals trapped in Myanmar, where tens of thousands of people have been displaced by a surge in clashes between junta troops and ethnic minority insurgents near the border with China, officials said.

The effort to rescue Thais from chaos in neighbouring Myanmar comes after at least 30 Thais, most of them farm workers, were killed during the Oct. 7 rampage by the Hamas militants in southern Israel. Sixteen Thais were wounded and 17 are among hostages taken by the Palestinian militants.