An explosion at an explosives depot in a rebel-controlled village in northeast Myanmar has killed at least 46 people and wounded more than 70 others, with some sources suggesting the death toll may be higher. The blast struck the village of Kaung Tat in Namkham Township, in Myanmar's Shan State, around midday local time on Sunday, and was powerful enough to be seen from across the border in China. Among the dead were six children, including a one-year-old toddler.

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), the ethnic armed group that controls the area, confirmed the explosion in a statement, saying the detonation involved explosives stored for use in mining and quarrying operations. The group said an investigation into the cause was under way and those responsible would be held accountable. The region lies just three kilometres from the Chinese border and is known for its ruby-rich mines, as well as silica extraction — a mineral widely used in the production of glass, ceramics and concrete. Reports indicate the depot contained lignite, a highly powerful explosive commonly used in mining and quarrying.

The scale of the destruction was immense. Footage from the scene showed a vast crater surrounded by shattered buildings, with smoke still rising from charred debris and twisted trees. According to rescue workers and local media, around 200 homes in Kaung Tat and approximately 100 more in the nearby village of Pan Lone were damaged. Residents described scenes of chaos and grief, with one local survivor writing on social media that many initially believed the blast had been caused by an air strike. "People were crying, calling out for their parents," she wrote. "It felt as if the world had come to an end." She also questioned why an explosives facility had been permitted to operate so close to residential areas.

The TNLA is one of Myanmar's most powerful ethnic armed organisations and forms part of the so-called Three Brotherhood Alliance, a coalition of rebel groups that has been waging armed resistance against the country's military government, which seized power in a coup in February 2021. Like many armed groups in Myanmar, the TNLA relies partly on revenues from mineral mining to fund its operations — a sector where safety standards are frequently described as lax, making accidents a recurring hazard for local communities.

Rescue operations were reported to be ongoing as authorities sought to establish the full casualty count, which some sources placed as high as 55 dead. The exact cause of the explosion had not been officially determined at the time of reporting.