Mining explosives blast kills 55 in Myanmar’s rebel-controlled area

The blast occurred around midday in Kaungtup village in Namhkam Township, Shan State, an area near the Chinese border controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has fought Myanmar’s military government for years.

According to the BBC, local sources said at least 55 people were killed, including 25 women and 30 men. Rescue operations continued into the evening as teams searched through debris for survivors and recovered bodies trapped beneath collapsed structures.

Photos and videos shared by local media showed thick smoke rising above the village and widespread destruction in the surrounding area. Reports indicated that more than 100 houses were damaged, with entire sections of the neighbourhood affected by the blast.

The TNLA said in a statement that the explosion involved gelignite stored by its economic department for use in mining and stone quarrying operations. The group said preliminary findings suggested the blast originated from a facility where large quantities of mining explosives had been kept. An investigation into the cause of the incident is under way.

Gelignite is commonly used in mining and construction projects but can become unstable if stored improperly or for long periods.

Local media reported, residents initially believed the blast had been caused by an air strike due to the intensity of the explosion. Witnesses reported hearing desperate cries as families searched for missing relatives amid the rubble.

The TNLA controls Namhkam and nearby areas after the Three Brotherhood Alliance and allied groups launched a major offensive against Myanmar’s military in late 2023. Although the TNLA signed a China-brokered ceasefire with the military last year, tensions between the two sides remain high.

Myanmar has been gripped by conflict since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. The coup triggered resistance and armed conflict across large parts of the country, with ethnic armed groups and anti-junta forces battling military troops in several regions.

– Ends

With inputs from agencies