About 70 others were injured in the explosion that occurred around noon on May 31st in Kaungtup village, Namhkam town (Myanmar).
This area, about 3km south of the Chinese border, is under the control of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army - a national armed group that has engaged in sporadic fighting against the Myanmar government.
A rescuer present at the scene of the explosion said that 46 bodies, including 6 children, were found on the evening of May 31 and were taken for cremation. 74 injured people were transferred to the town hospital and rescue operations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, another rescuer in Namhkam said that about 40 people were killed and more than 100 houses near the explosion site were damaged.
Myanmar media, including Shan State's online news agency Shwe Phee Myay, reported that the death toll ranged from 50 to 55 people.
Chinese state television CCTV reported that the explosion caused many casualties, and many houses were seriously damaged, but did not give specific figures.
According to preliminary investigation, the explosion occurred at a location storing a large amount of explosives used for mining activities.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) informed that gelignite explosives are stored in warehouses by the economic department of this force for use in mining and quarrying activities. An investigation into the cause of the explosion is being conducted by this force.
Gelignite is widely used in mining and rockbreaking, but can be unstable if left for too long and stored improperly.
