Blast at Myanmar Explosives Warehouse Kills at Least 46

An explosion at a warehouse storing explosives for mining operations killed at least 46 people and wounded dozens more in Kaung Tat village in Myanmar's Shan State on Sunday. Rescue teams said six children, including a one-year-old toddler, were among the dead.

The blast damaged around 200 homes in Kaung Tat and about 100 homes in the nearby Pan Lone village. A source familiar with the situation told the BBC that at least 55 people had died. The bodies of all 46 victims, including three Chinese nationals, were cremated on Sunday evening.

Rescue operations were expected to resume on Monday.

74 injured people were transferred to Namkham General Hospital for treatment. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army, which controls Kaung Tat village in Namkham Township near the Chinese border, said the explosion occurred at around 12:00 local time, or 05:30 GMT, on Sunday.

The group stated that explosives kept in a warehouse for use in local mining operations had ignited. "Because of this explosion, many local villagers lost their lives and suffered injuries and damage to their homes," the TNLA said. The facility contained gelignite stored by the group's economic department for mining purposes.

An investigation is under way to determine how the material was detonated.

Footage from the scene shows a vast crater of earth and rubble surrounded by shattered buildings, with smoke still drifting from charred debris and twisted trees. One resident said some villagers initially believed the blast was caused by an air strike.

"By sheer luck, my phone saved my life," the resident wrote. " The resident suffered a minor leg injury and her home was destroyed. The resident described scenes of panic and grief, with people crying and calling out for their parents. She questioned why a facility containing explosives had been allowed to operate close to residential areas.