Blast at explosives storage site kills dozens in Myanmar

A blast at a gelignite storage facility in Namhkam township near the Chinese border killed at least 46, including six children, rescuers said.washingtonpost
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, which controls the area, said explosives were stored by its economic department for mining and quarrying.latimes
More than 100 homes were damaged; local media reported death tolls as high as 55 as rescue operations continued Sunday evening.newindianexpress

Blast at Explosives Storage Site Kills Dozens in Myanmar’s Shan State

An explosion at a building storing mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar killed at least 46 people on Sunday, including six children, with local media reporting death tolls as high as 55. About 70 others were injured in the blast, which struck around noon in the village of Kaungtup in Namhkam township, roughly two miles from the Chinese border.

Rescue Efforts Underway

A rescue worker who spoke to the Associated Press said 46 bodies had been recovered by Sunday evening and taken for cremation, while 74 injured people were transported to the township hospital. Another rescuer in Namhkam said more than 100 houses near the blast site were damaged. Myanmar media outlets, including Shan State’s online Shwe Phee Myay news agency, reported death tolls ranging from 50 to 55.washingtonpost

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the explosion caused deaths and injuries and severely damaged several houses, saying preliminary investigations indicated the blast occurred at a site storing large quantities of explosives used for mining operations.latimes

Gelignite Storage Blamed

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, which controls the area, said in a statement on its Telegram channel that gelignite had been stored by the group’s economic department for use in mining and stone quarrying. Gelignite is widely used in rock blasting but can become highly unstable over time or if improperly stored. The TNLA said an investigation into the cause is underway.latimes

The TNLA is a member of the rebel Three Brotherhood Alliance and has controlled the Namhkam area since the alliance launched a major offensive against Myanmar’s military in late 2023. The group signed a ceasefire with Myanmar’s military following China-mediated talks in October, though relations remain tense.wikipedia

A Country in Turmoil

Myanmar has been mired in conflict since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021. Large parts of the country are now controlled by armed ethnic groups and resistance forces fighting for autonomy or democratic restoration. The Namhkam area, nestled near the Chinese border in northern Shan State, has been a flashpoint in these wider hostilities, with multiple armed factions vying for control of territory rich in natural resources.washingtonpost