BANGKOK, May 31: A powerful explosion at a building reportedly storing mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar killed more than 45 people and injured around 70 others on Sunday, according to rescue workers and local media reports.
The blast occurred around midday in Kaungtup village in Namhkam township, an area located near the Chinese border and controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group. Rescue workers said at least 46 bodies, including those of six children, had been recovered by Sunday evening and taken for cremation. More than 70 injured people were transported to local hospitals, while rescue operations continued into the night.
Another rescuer said over 100 homes near the explosion site were damaged, highlighting the scale of the disaster. Independent Myanmar media outlets reported death tolls ranging between 50 and 55, while Chinese state broadcaster CCTV confirmed multiple deaths and injuries, noting that numerous residential buildings had been severely damaged.
Preliminary investigations suggest the explosion occurred at a facility storing large quantities of explosives used in mining operations. The TNLA later confirmed that gelignite, a powerful explosive commonly used in mining and quarrying, had been stored at the site by its economic department. The group said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the blast. Experts note that gelignite can become highly unstable if stored improperly or for extended periods.
The TNLA is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, a coalition of ethnic armed groups that seized control of the Namhkam area during a major offensive against Myanmar’s military in late 2023. Although the TNLA reached a China-brokered ceasefire with the military last year, tensions remain high.
The tragedy comes against the backdrop of Myanmar’s ongoing political and armed conflict following the military coup of February 2021, which ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, widespread resistance to military rule has evolved into a nationwide conflict involving ethnic armed groups and anti-junta forces, leaving large parts of the country unstable and affected by violence. (AP)
