At least 46 killed in accidental explosion in Myanmar's Shan State: Rebel group
The blast occurred around midday in Kaung Tat village in Namkham Township, near Myanmar's border with China, an area administered by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which is fighting against the country's military government
At least 46 people, including six children and three Chinese nationals, were killed after a powerful explosion ripped through a village in Myanmar's northern Shan State on Sunday, an ethnic armed group that controls the area said.
The blast occurred around midday in Kaung Tat village in Namkham Township, near Myanmar's border with China, an area administered by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which is fighting against the country's military government, says the BBC.
The TNLA said the explosion was an "accidental explosion" at a warehouse operated by its economic department that was storing gelignite used in local mining operations.
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The group said 74 people were injured and taken to Namkham General Hospital for treatment. It has launched an investigation into the cause of the blast.
The explosion destroyed about 200 homes in Kaung Tat village and damaged another 100 homes in nearby Pan Lone village, according to the TNLA. Images from the scene showed a large crater surrounded by heavily damaged buildings and burnt debris.
Among those killed were six children, including a one-year-old child, and three Chinese citizens, the group said. Some local reports suggested the death toll could rise further.
Residents said the force of the explosion was so great that many initially believed the area was under a military air strike.
One survivor said they narrowly escaped death because they had been in a bedroom rather than the kitchen when their house collapsed.
The disaster has prompted calls from local residents for a full explanation of why large quantities of explosives were being stored close to residential areas.
The TNLA said rescue and recovery operations were expected to continue through Monday. The bodies of the 46 confirmed victims were cremated on Sunday evening.
The TNLA is one of several ethnic armed groups operating in Myanmar's border regions. Many such groups derive revenue from mining activities, including the extraction of valuable minerals, in areas under their control.
