At least 55 people have been killed and dozens injured in a deadly explosion in a rebel-held village in Myanmar’s restive Shan state.
Sources say the explosion in Kaung That village in Namkham township, near the Chinese border, killed 25 women and 30 men. However, other reports have given different death tolls.
A huge cloud of smoke was seen rising above the village immediately after the explosion on Sunday, engulfing the entire area.
The Tang National Liberation Army, which controls the area and is fighting against the military junta, said that explosives used in mining and quarrying suddenly exploded.
According to the AFP news agency, the Tang National Liberation Army said in a statement that the explosion was “accidental” and occurred around 12:00 local time on Sunday.
According to the organization, “the explosion killed several local villagers, injured many others and severely damaged their homes.”
Videos of the incident show a huge crater on the ground, piles of rubble, destroyed buildings, charred trees and smoke still rising, which shows the intensity of the explosion.
The Tang National Liberation Army is one of the most powerful ethnic armed groups fighting against the military government in Myanmar. In Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, many rebel groups rely on the mining of precious minerals to cover their activities.
According to the AFP news agency, due to a lack of safety measures in the mining sector, collapses, explosions and other accidents have become a common occurrence.
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