Explosion Kills at Least 55 in Myanmar Village

An explosion killed at least 55 people and wounded dozens more in Kaung Tat village in Myanmar's Shan State on Sunday. A source familiar with the situation on the ground said 25 women and 30 men died in the blast. Children were among the dead.

The explosion occurred around 12:00 local time, or 05:30 GMT, in Namkham Township near the Chinese border. A huge cloud of smoke billowed over the village shortly after the detonation. The Ta'ang National Liberation Army, which controls the area, said explosives used in mining and quarrying had gone off accidentally.

The group stated that many local villagers lost their lives and suffered injuries and damage to their homes. Footage from the scene shows a vast crater of earth and rubble surrounded by shattered buildings. Smoke continued to drift from charred debris and twisted trees after the blast.

Hundreds of homes were damaged, affecting almost an entire neighborhood. One resident wrote on social media that many people initially believed the blast was caused by an air strike. The same resident said she suffered a minor leg injury and her home was destroyed.

She described people crying and calling out for their parents in the aftermath. "By sheer luck, my phone saved my life," the resident wrote. "I was sitting in my bedroom eating noodles and looking at my phone.

The resident questioned why a facility containing explosives had been allowed to operate close to residential areas. She said families of those killed would not be satisfied unless authorities provided a full explanation. The TNLA is one of the most powerful ethnic armed groups opposed to Myanmar's military junta.

Many rebel groups in the country rely on mining precious minerals to fund their campaigns.