At least 55 people were killed in the explosion in the warehouse filled with gelenite. Many were injured. The incident took place in Kaungthup village of Shan state of Myanmar on Sunday. Many people are trapped under the rubble. The death toll is expected to rise. Rescue work is still going on. Local authorities are investigating how the explosion happened.
According to a BBC report, Namkham township is next to Kaungtup village. The entire area is populated. There is a large stone quarry here. Next to it is a warehouse. Large quantities of gelenite explosives were stocked there to break the rocks. There was a sudden explosion in the afternoon. First a fireball splash. The whole area shook with the loud noise. Immediately, the surrounding area was covered in black smoke.
Many nearby houses were destroyed in the explosion. Several neighborhoods were reduced to rubble. According to local media sources, hundreds of villagers were rescued by evening.
According to multiple Myanmar media reports, the intensity of the explosion was so intense that villagers thought it was an airstrike. They immediately rushed to rescue their relatives.
Destroyed houses, blood and corpses all around. Many people were shocked to see such a terrible situation. The disaster response team reached the spot in no time. They have started rescue operations.
Local media reported that 25 women and 30 men were among the dead. Rescue work is still going on. Preliminary investigations show that the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction caused by prolonged exposure to gelenite.
Kaungthup village is currently under the control of the Ta-Aung National Liberation Army. In 2021, the military junta overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, the entire country has been in de facto civil war.
In late 2023, the Ta-Aung National Liberation Army again fought the Myanmar Army and took control of several surrounding areas, including Namkham. The two sides later agreed to a Chinese-brokered ceasefire, but tensions have not fully subsided.