Explosion in Rebel-Held Myanmar Village Claims Dozens

Dozens lost their lives in northeastern Myanmar on Sunday following a massive explosion that devastated a village in rebel-held territory. Local authorities confirmed that the blast was accidental, occurring at a warehouse storing explosives for mining.

The explosion took place around noon in Kaung Tup, a village located in Shan State near the Chinese border. The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, which controls the area, reported the incident but is investigating its cause.

There were no detailed casualty figures from the authorities, but local media reports and a rescue worker indicated that at least 55 people, including children, died in the explosion.

Video footage shared on social media captured the incident, showing clouds of white smoke and a subsequent large explosion. Some residents initially believed it to be a military air raid, as Myanmar’s military has reportedly continued attacks despite a cease-fire agreement last October.

“The sound was so loud that we thought an aircraft was dropping bombs,” stated Lway Poe Nge, a resident of Kaung Tup, in a phone interview. “My house was completely destroyed.” She described narrowly escaping with her mother, while her cousin, living next door, perished when rubble collapsed on her home.