Massive blast kills 55 in Myanmar village

A powerful explosion has killed at least 55 people and injured dozens more in a

A powerful explosion has killed at least 55 people and injured dozens more in a village controlled by an ethnic armed group in northern Myanmar, according to local sources.

The blast took place in Kaung Tat village, located in Namkham Township in Shan State near the Chinese border. The area is under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), one of the most prominent rebel groups fighting Myanmar’s military junta.

Reports from the ground say the victims include at least 25 women and 30 men, though the exact toll may still change as information continues to come in.

The explosion occurred around midday on Sunday. A huge plume of smoke was seen rising over the village shortly after the blast, followed by widespread destruction across residential areas.

The TNLA said the incident was caused by an accidental detonation of explosives used for mining and quarrying activities. The group added that the blast caused heavy loss of life, injuries, and extensive damage to homes, but did not provide further technical details.

Residents described scenes of chaos and devastation in the aftermath. Entire neighborhoods were reportedly affected, with hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed in the explosion zone.

Eyewitness accounts shared on social media suggested that many villagers initially feared the blast was an airstrike due to the intensity of the explosion and the scale of destruction.

One survivor said she narrowly escaped death by chance, explaining that she had been inside her home shortly before the blast hit. She described the aftermath as filled with panic, smoke, and cries for help as families searched for missing relatives.

Footage from the site shows a large crater where the explosion occurred, surrounded by shattered buildings, burned debris, and uprooted trees. Smoke was still visible hours after the incident.

Children were also among those killed, according to local accounts, deepening the tragedy for the affected community. Many residents said the explosion destroyed nearly an entire residential cluster within the village.

Questions have been raised about why explosive materials were stored or used so close to populated homes. Local residents have called for a full investigation and clear answers from authorities and armed groups operating in the area.

The TNLA, which has been engaged in long-running conflict with Myanmar’s military, relies in part on resource extraction and local mining activities to support its operations. However, such activities are often carried out with limited safety oversight, increasing the risk of accidents.

Myanmar has been engulfed in internal conflict since the military takeover, with multiple ethnic armed groups controlling different territories and frequent clashes reported across several regions.