Blast in rebel-held Myanmar kills at least 55, reports say

YANGON: At least 55 people were killed in an explosion in Myanmar’s Kaung Tat village, according to reports cited by the BBC and local outlet Shwe Phee Myay News Agency, while the rebel group controlling the area said there had been fatalities but did not give a number.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, which holds the village near the Chinese border and has been fighting Myanmar’s military junta, said the blast was caused by the accidental detonation of explosives stored for mining and stone quarrying. In a statement, the group said the explosion occurred around noon on Sunday in Namhkam and that the explosives belonged to its economic department.

The reported death toll of 55 included 25 women and 30 men, while dozens more were said to have been injured. The TNLA said the exact cause of the blast was under investigation and that those found responsible would be held accountable. It also said relief, healthcare and rehabilitation would be provided to affected families.

In its statement, the group said: “The Palaung State Liberation Front/TNLA expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, were injured, and suffered damage as a result of the explosion,”

An emergency worker said the powerful blast destroyed many homes and that the wounded were taken to a local hospital. He added that more bodies could still be under collapsed houses. Another rescuer, who also requested anonymity, said the toll was higher at 59 dead and that emergency personnel were collecting bodies for cremation.

Conflict and mining risks

Myanmar has been in civil war since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, with the armed forces battling pro-democracy fighters as well as ethnic minority armed groups. The TNLA is among the country’s most powerful ethnic armed organisations.

Many rebel groups in Myanmar depend on mining valuable minerals to finance their campaigns against the military, and poor safety standards have made mine collapses and other accidents common. The country’s border regions are home to numerous ethnic armed groups, many of which have fought the military since independence from Britain in 1948 over autonomy and control of profitable natural resources.

The TNLA is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which also includes the Arakan Army and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army. The alliance reached a China-brokered ceasefire with the military in early 2024, but the TNLA resumed attacks in Shan state and neighbouring Mandalay region in June that year.

During the summer of 2024, rebel forces captured the northern ruby-mining town of Mogok, with the TNLA playing a leading role in the offensive. In October last year, the group said it had agreed to withdraw from Mogok under a process mediated by China.