A powerful explosion occurred in a village under rebel control in Myanmar, resulting in 55 deaths and dozens more injured.
BBC News reported on 31 May 2026 that an explosion took place in Kaung Tat village in Namkham town, Shan State, Myanmar, leaving at least 55 people dead and dozens injured. Rescue teams are urgently searching for and assisting those trapped under the rubble.
Local sources stated that among the dead were 25 women and 30 men, though other reports gave slightly different figures for casualties and injuries.
The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), a rebel group fiercely fighting Myanmar's military government and controlling the area, said the explosion involved explosive materials used for mining and quarrying.
Reports indicated that children were among the dead, and damage to several hundred homes affected nearly the entire village community.
Local residents described the damage and chaos following the blast. One posted on social media that many initially believed the explosion resulted from an airstrike.
“I was very lucky my phone saved my life,” the post said. “I was eating noodles and looking at my phone in my bedroom. If I had been eating in the kitchen, I would not be alive now.”
The injured resident, who suffered minor leg wounds and whose home was destroyed, described the atmosphere filled with panic and grief after the blast. “People were crying and shouting for their parents. It felt as if the world was breaking apart.”
She also questioned why facilities storing explosives were allowed to operate so close to residential areas, saying families of the victims will not let the matter rest until authorities provide a full and clear explanation.
Source:bbc