BangkokAP —
More than 45 people were killed on Sunday when an explosion occurred in a building said to be storing explosives for mining in northeastern Myanmar, rescue workers and independent media reported.
About 70 other people were injured in the explosion, which occurred around noon in Kaung Thap village in Nam Kham district.
The area, about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of the Chinese border, is under the control of the Ta’an National Liberation Army, an ethnic armed group that has fought sporadic battles with Myanmar’s central government.
Rescue workers at the scene of the explosion told The Associated Press that by Sunday evening, 46 bodies, including six children, had been recovered and taken for cremation.
The rescuer, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said 74 injured people had been taken to a hospital in the town and rescue efforts were continuing.
Another rescue worker in Nam Kham, speaking on condition of anonymity, said about 40 people were killed and more than 100 homes near the blast site were damaged.
Myanmar media, including Shan state’s online Shwepyi Myay news agency, reported the death toll to be between 50 and 55. It released photos and videos showing smoke from the explosion and damaged buildings and debris in its aftermath.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the explosion caused multiple casualties and severely damaged many homes, but did not give figures.
According to a preliminary investigation, the explosion occurred at a site where large quantities of explosives used in mining operations were stored.
According to the report, local authorities are currently providing relief, medical care and resettlement assistance to affected residents.
The Ta’an National Liberation Army (TNLA) said in a statement on its Telegram channel that the gelignite was being stored by the group’s economic wing for use in mines and quarries, and that an investigation into the cause of the explosion was underway.
Gelinite is widely used in mining and rock blasting, but can become highly unstable over time and if poorly preserved.
The Ta’an National Liberation Army (TNLA) is part of the Three Brothers rebel group, which has controlled the Nam Kham region since late 2023 when the alliance and its allies launched a major offensive against the military in northeastern Myanmar. Alliance members and other ethnic armed groups have long fought for greater autonomy.
The TNLA signed a ceasefire agreement with Myanmar’s military in October last year following Chinese-mediated talks, but relations remain tense.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s government on February 1, 2021, sparking widespread public opposition. Large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict, with many opponents of military rule taking up arms after peaceful demonstrations were crushed with deadly force.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
