A powerful explosion at a building reportedly storing mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar killed more than 45 people on Sunday and injured dozens more, according to rescue workers, local media reports and statements from authorities in the area. The blast occurred near the Chinese border in a region controlled by an ethnic armed group, underscoring continuing security and humanitarian challenges in parts of the country affected by conflict.
The explosion took place around midday in Kaungtup village in Namhkam township, located in Myanmar’s Shan State about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the Chinese border. Rescue workers told The Associated Press that at least 46 bodies, including six children, had been recovered by Sunday evening while dozens of injured residents were transported to a local hospital. Rescue operations were continuing as authorities assessed the extent of the damage.
Casualties Mount as Rescue Efforts Continue
One rescue worker involved in the response said 74 injured people had been taken for medical treatment, while another rescuer reported that more than 100 homes near the explosion site sustained damage. Independent media outlets in Shan State reported death toll estimates ranging from 50 to 55, though those figures had not been independently verified.
Images and video published by local media showed heavy smoke rising above the village and widespread destruction in the surrounding area. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported multiple deaths and injuries and said residential buildings had suffered significant damage. The broadcaster did not provide casualty figures.
Explosives Storage Site Under Investigation
Preliminary findings cited by CCTV indicated the blast occurred at a facility where large quantities of explosives used in mining operations had been stored. Local authorities were providing medical assistance, emergency relief and temporary resettlement support for affected residents, according to the broadcaster’s report.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which controls the area, said in a statement on its Telegram channel that gelignite explosives had been stored by its economic department for use in mining and quarrying activities. The group stated that an investigation into the cause of the explosion was underway. Authorities have not publicly confirmed additional details regarding what triggered the blast.
Gelignite is commonly used in mining and rock blasting operations but can become unstable if improperly stored or deteriorated over time. Independent verification of the exact cause of the explosion was not immediately available.
Conflict Adds to Regional Instability
The affected area is under the control of the TNLA, one of several ethnic armed organizations that have engaged in intermittent fighting with Myanmar’s military authorities. The group expanded its territorial control in northern Shan State during coordinated offensives launched with allied ethnic forces in late 2023.
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Myanmar has remained deeply unstable since the military seized power in a 2021 takeover, triggering nationwide conflict involving resistance forces, ethnic armed groups and government troops. The latest disaster adds to ongoing humanitarian pressures in several border regions where conflict and limited infrastructure have complicated emergency response efforts.
Details surrounding the explosion remain under investigation, and casualty figures could change as rescue teams continue recovery operations.
