Insurgents say it was caused by explosives being used for mining close to the Chinese border.
3 hours ago
Patrick Jacksonand
BBC Burmese
Shwe Phee Myay
At least 46 people have been killed and dozens more wounded after an explosion in a village in a region of Myanmar under insurgent control, rescue teams have told the BBC.
A rescue worker in Kaung Tat, a village in Namkham Township in Shan State, near the Chinese border, said six children including a one-year-old toddler were among the dead.
The blast is said to have damaged around 200 homes in Kaung Tat and another 100 in the nearby Pan Lone village.
The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which controls the area and has been fighting the military junta, said explosives kept in a warehouse for use in local mining operations had ignited, causing the blast.
Shwe Phee Myay
A source familiar with the situation on the ground previously told the BBC at least 55 people had died.
The bodies of all 46 victims, including three Chinese nationals, were cremated on Sunday evening, with rescue operations expected to resume on Monday.
Around 74 injured people were transferred to the nearby Namkham General Hospital for treatment, rescue teams added.
The "accidental explosion" occurred at around 12:00 local time (05:30 GMT) on Sunday, the TNLA said.
"Because of this explosion, many local villagers lost their lives and suffered injuries and damage to their homes," the group said, without providing details.
Footage from the scene shows a vast crater of earth and rubble surrounded by shattered buildings, with smoke still drifting from charred debris and twisted trees.
Taking to social media, one resident said some villagers initially believed the blast was caused by an air strike.
"By sheer luck, my phone saved my life," the resident wrote.
"I was sitting in my bedroom eating noodles and looking at my phone. If I had been eating in the kitchen, I probably would not be alive today."
EPA
The resident, who said she had suffered a minor leg injury and her own home had been destroyed, described scenes of panic and grief in the aftermath of the blast.
"People were crying, calling out for their parents," she wrote.
"It felt as if the world had come to an end."
She questioned why a facility containing explosives had been allowed to operate close to residential areas, saying families of those killed would not be satisfied unless the authorities provided a full explanation.
According to the TNLA, the facility contained gelignite stored by the group's economic department for mining purposes.
An investigation is under way to determine how the material was detonated, the group said.
The TNLA is one of the most powerful ethnic armed groups opposed to the junta in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
Many of the country's rebel groups rely on mining precious minerals to fund their campaigns, with lax safety measures making mine collapses and other accidents common, according to AFP.
Disciplinary authorities in central China are investigating a county-level Communist Party chief following a coal mine gas blast that killed 82 people and left two missing. Zhao Yongjin, party secretary of Qinyuan county in Changzhi, was “suspected of serious violations of discipline and law”, the S
We have put together stories from our coverage on science from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese archaeologist who discovered 5,000-year-old city pleads guilty to corruption Liu Bin, a Chinese archaeo
Japan is positioning itself as a partner for Pacific Island nations struggling with rising seas and caught between the US-China rivalry, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledging on Wednesday to help fight climate change and boost maritime cooperation. Speaking at the inaugural Island States Ocean
Li Xiaohong, a former senior disciplinary official in charge of national inspection, has been placed under investigation for suspected severe disciplinary and legal violations, China’s top anti-corruption authorities said on Tuesday. The downfall of the 73-year-old veteran – known for spearheading h