A powerful explosion at a building used for storing explosives in northeastern Myanmar has resulted in the deaths of more than 45 people, according to rescue workers and independent media reports. The blast, which occurred around noon on Sunday in the village of Kaungtup, Namhkam township, also left approximately 70 others injured.
Details of the Incident
The area, located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of the Chinese border, is under the control of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has been involved in sporadic clashes with Myanmar's central government. A rescue worker who arrived at the scene told The Associated Press that 46 bodies, including six children, had been recovered by Sunday evening and were taken for cremation. The rescuer, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons, added that 74 injured individuals had been transported to the township hospital and that rescue operations were ongoing.
Another rescuer in Namhkam, also speaking anonymously, reported that about 40 people were killed and more than 100 houses near the blast site were damaged. Myanmar media outlets, including Shan State's online Shwe Phee Myay news agency, reported death tolls ranging from 50 to 55. They published photos and videos showing smoke from the explosion, damaged buildings, and debris in the aftermath.
International and Local Response
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the explosion caused multiple deaths and injuries, with many residential houses severely damaged, but did not provide specific figures. According to preliminary investigations, the blast occurred at a site where large quantities of explosives used for mining operations were stored. Local authorities are currently providing relief, medical care, and resettlement assistance to affected residents, said the report.
The TNLA issued a statement on its Telegram channel stating that gelignite had been stored by the group's economic department for use in mining and stone quarrying, and that an investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway. Gelignite is widely used in mining and rock blasting but can become highly unstable over time and if poorly stored.
Context of the Conflict
The TNLA is a member of the rebel Three Brotherhood Alliance and has controlled the Namhkam area since the alliance and its allies launched a major offensive against the military in northeastern Myanmar in late 2023. The alliance members and other ethnic armed groups have long fought for increased autonomy. The TNLA signed a ceasefire with Myanmar's military following China-mediated talks in October last year, but relations remain tense.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict.
