At least 55 people were killed and dozens injured after a powerful explosion tore through a village in Myanmar's northern Shan State near the Chinese border, local media reported on Monday. The explosion at the U Hong Nu/Divine Energy fuel depot was reportedly triggered by a short circuit in a tanker truck that was loading fuel and spread to a 10K-gallon diesel tank.
The blast occurred around noon on Sunday in Kaung Tat village in Namhkam Township, an area controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has been fighting Myanmar's military government.
According to local reports cited by the BBC, the dead included 25 women and 30 men. Rescue teams continued searching through the debris on Monday amid fears that the casualty toll could rise further.
The explosion caused widespread destruction across the village, damaging more than 100 houses and reducing several buildings to rubble. Witnesses described scenes of devastation, with emergency workers retrieving bodies from collapsed structures and assisting survivors.
TNLA-Controlled Border Area
The TNLA's political wing, the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), said preliminary findings suggested the blast was caused by the accidental detonation of explosives allegedly stored for mining operations.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the PSLF/TNLA expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
"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," the group said.
The organisation said the explosion occurred at around noon local time and confirmed that an investigation had been launched to determine the exact cause of the incident.
It added that any individual or organisation found responsible would be held accountable once the inquiry is completed.
The TNLA also said it was coordinating assistance for affected residents and pledged support for families who lost relatives, homes and property in the blast.
Rescue Operations Underway
Videos and photographs circulating on local media showed flattened buildings, twisted debris and rescue personnel working through the wreckage. Several families were reportedly displaced as a result of the explosion.
Authorities and local relief groups are continuing damage assessments while search-and-rescue operations remain underway.
The incident is one of the deadliest explosions reported in Myanmar in recent years and comes amid ongoing instability in Shan State, where ethnic armed groups control large areas outside the authority of the military government.
