Monday 01 / June / 2026
More than 40 people were killed on Sunday in an explosion at a building in northeastern Myanmar that was reportedly storing explosives for mining.
Around 70 people were injured, according to rescue workers.
The explosion occurred in the village of Kaungtup in Namhkam Township, about three kilometers (two miles) south of the Chinese border.
The area is controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic rebel group that has fought sporadically against Myanmar's central government.
Myanmar has been gripped by a civil war since the military seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted the democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar's military is facing a range of pro-democracy rebels and ethnic minority armed groups.
What do we know about the blast?
It is unclear exactly how many people died. Rescuers cited by the Associated Press said that between 40 and 46 people were killed, including children. According to AFP sources, the number of casualties ranges from 46 to 59.
Myanmar media outlets, including the Shan State-based online news agency Shwe Phee Myay, reported death tolls ranging from 50 to 55.
According to local reports, the explosion damaged numerous residential buildings in the surrounding area.Rescue workers are continuing to search for people buried under the rubble. Namhkam Hospital reported an acute shortage of blood supplies to treat the injured.
The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that the explosion caused multiple deaths and injuries, as well as severe damage to many residential buildings.
CCTV added that, according to preliminary investigations, the blast occurred at a site where large quantities of explosives used for mining operations were stored.
