• Source:JND

A powerful explosion rocked a building in Myanmar on Sunday, killing more than 45 people while leaving 70 injured. It is reported that the building housed explosives used for mining. Among those killed were six children.

The blast, which occurred around noon in Kaungtup village in Namkham Township, Myanmar, is located about 3 kilometres south of the Chinese border.

The blast occurred in Namkham Township, Myanmar, and is controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has fought intermittently against the central government.

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A rescue worker who immediately reached the blast site told news agency AP that 46 bodies had been recovered by Sunday evening, including six children.

According to independent Myanmar media outlets, including Shan State's online Shwe Phee Myay news agency, the death toll is between 50 and 55. It may rise further as the rescue operation is currently underway. 

Meanwhile, the images and videos circulating on local and social media show a thick cloud of smoke emanating from the blast site, along with collapsed structures and debris scattered across the village following the blast.

Local authorities were engaged in providing relief, medical care and resettlement assistance to affected residents, said the report.

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TNLA issues statement 

The TNLA issued a statement on the explosion on its Telegram channel, saying that gelignite had been kept at the building by its economic department.

The statement added that the explosives were stored for use in mining and stone quarrying activities and that an investigation has been launched to find our the cause of the explosion.


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