A powerful explosion on Sunday at a building storing explosives in northeastern Myanmar has resulted in at least 45 deaths and numerous injuries, according to rescue workers and various media reports. The blast occurred around midday in the village of Kaungtup, located in Namhkam township, near the border with China.

The immediate aftermath saw rescue personnel recovering 46 bodies, including six children, while transporting approximately 70 to 74 injured individuals to the township hospital. Some local sources indicated a slightly lower death toll of around 40, while Myanmar media outlets reported figures between 50 and 55. The blast also caused extensive damage to nearby residences, with over 100 houses reported as affected by the explosion.

The site of the blast is under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has maintained a presence in the area since launching a significant offensive alongside allied forces against Myanmar’s military in late 2023. The TNLA is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which has long sought greater autonomy amid the broader conflict engulfing Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021.

According to a statement from the TNLA’s economic department, gelignite—an explosive commonly used in mining and quarrying—was stored at the location. The group confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway. Gelignite can become highly unstable if stored improperly or over extended periods, potentially contributing to the sudden blast.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV also reported on the incident, noting multiple deaths and injuries as well as significant damage to residential properties. Preliminary investigations pointed to the storage of large quantities of mining explosives as the source of the explosion. Local authorities have mobilized to provide medical care, relief, and resettlement assistance to those affected.

The Namhkam area has remained a hotspot of armed conflict, despite a ceasefire agreement signed between the TNLA and Myanmar’s military in October 2023, facilitated by China. Relations between the parties, however, have continued to be strained. The broader instability in Myanmar followed the military’s ousting of the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in early 2021, sparking widespread resistance and ongoing clashes between the army and various ethnic armed groups.