Myanmar blast at mining explosive storage kills over 45, including children

A devastating explosion at a mining explosive storage facility in Myanmar's northeastern Shan state killed at least 45 people and injured around 70 others on Sunday, according to rescuers and independent media reports. The blast occurred around noon in the village of Kaungtup, located in Namhkam township about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of the Chinese border. The area is under the control of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has been engaged in sporadic fighting against Myanmar's central government.

One rescuer who rushed to the scene reported recovering 46 bodies, including six children, by Sunday evening, with bodies subsequently taken for cremation. The same rescuer stated that 74 injured individuals had been transported to the township hospital, with rescue operations ongoing. Another rescuer in Namhkam reported about 40 fatalities and damage to over 100 houses near the blast site. Myanmar media outlets, including Shan State's Shwe Phee Myay news agency, cited death tolls ranging from 50 to 55 and published photos and videos showing smoke, damaged buildings, and debris. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.