Emergency responders report that a devastating explosion at a Myanmar facility housing mining explosives has resulted in the deaths of more than 45 individuals, with dozens more suffering injuries.
The deadly blast occurred around midday Sunday in Kaungtup village, located in Namhkam township, leaving approximately 70 people wounded.
The village sits roughly 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Myanmar’s border with China, in territory controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an ethnic military organization that has periodically clashed with Myanmar’s national government.
An emergency responder who arrived at the explosion site informed The Associated Press that 46 fatalities, including six children, had been retrieved by Sunday night and prepared for cremation.
Speaking anonymously due to safety concerns, the responder reported that 74 wounded individuals had been transported to the township medical facility, with rescue efforts still ongoing.
A second rescue worker in Namhkam, also requesting anonymity, confirmed approximately 40 deaths and reported that more than 100 residences surrounding the blast location sustained damage.
News organizations in Myanmar, including Shan State’s online Shwe Phee Myay news agency, documented fatality counts between 50 and 55. They released photographs and video footage displaying smoke from the blast and the resulting structural damage and wreckage.
China’s state-run CCTV network confirmed the explosion resulted in multiple casualties and injuries, with numerous homes suffering significant damage, though specific numbers were not provided.
According to initial findings reported by the broadcaster, the explosion happened at a location where substantial amounts of mining explosives were kept in storage.
The report stated that local officials are currently delivering emergency aid, medical treatment, and relocation support to impacted community members.
In a statement posted to its Telegram channel, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, confirmed that gelignite had been kept by the organization’s economic division for mining and quarrying operations, adding that they are investigating what caused the explosion.
While gelignite serves common purposes in mining and rock demolition, it can develop dangerous instability as it ages or when stored improperly.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, belongs to the insurgent Three Brotherhood Alliance and has maintained control over the Namhkam region since the alliance and its partners initiated a significant military campaign against Myanmar’s armed forces in northeastern areas during late 2023. Alliance participants and other ethnic military organizations have historically fought for greater self-governance.
Following China-facilitated negotiations in October of last year, the TNLA agreed to a ceasefire with Myanmar’s military, though tensions continue.
Myanmar has experienced chaos since military forces overthrew the democratically elected administration of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, sparking extensive public resistance. When peaceful protests were violently suppressed, many military opponents armed themselves, and substantial portions of the nation are now experiencing armed conflict.
