At least 45 people died and around 70 were injured Sunday in a blast at a building storing mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar's rebel-held region.
8:40 PM
An explosion at a building storing mining explosives killed at least 45 people and wounded around 70 others Sunday in the village of Kaungtup, also referred to as Kaung Tat, in Namhkam Township in northeastern Myanmar near the Chinese border.
The blast occurred around 12:00 local time in an area controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic rebel group that has fought against Myanmar's central government. The TNLA said the explosion was accidental and involved explosives used in mining and quarrying operations.
Rescue workers and officials cited by the Associated Press reported that 46 bodies had been recovered by Sunday evening, including six children. A source familiar with the situation told the BBC that 25 women and 30 men had died, though reports gave slightly different figures, with some sources citing at least 55 deaths.
A large cloud of black smoke was visible billowing over the village immediately after the blast. Images circulated on social media showed the explosion site in ruins. Approximately 100 homes in the area sustained significant damage from the explosion.
The injured were transported to a local hospital. Rescue operations continued in the area as authorities worked to determine whether additional people remained trapped under the rubble. The exact cause of the explosion remained unclear as of Sunday evening.
The village lies about three kilometers south of the Chinese border in Shan State. The region has been under TNLA control amid Myanmar's broader civil conflict, which began after the military seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted the democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar's military has faced opposition from pro-democracy rebels and various ethnic minority armed groups since the coup.
Residents described scenes of devastation and confusion following the blast. Authorities opened an investigation to determine the precise circumstances of the incident.
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