A deadly explosion at a building used to store mining explosives in Kuang Tat village in Myanmar on Sunday killed at least 55 people, according to sources cited by BBC.
A huge cloud of smoke puffed out over the village soon after the blast took place.
As per one source, around 25 women and 30 men had been killed in the village currently under control by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).
The TNLA said in a statement, cited by the AFP news agency, that the root of the blast were explosives used in mining and quarrying, which had gone off around 12:00 local time (05:30 GMT).
“Because of this explosion, many local villagers lost their lives and suffered injuries and damage to their homes,” said the rebel group.
According to a social media post by a resident, many initially believed the blast was due to an air strike. The post reported the death of children, along with damages to hundreds of homes, affecting nearly an entire neighborhood.
“By sheer luck, my phone saved my life,” she 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.”
She further added, “People were crying, calling out for their parents. It felt as if the world had come to an end.”
The resident reportedly suffered a minor leg injury while her home was destroyed. She expressed suspicions regarding why a facility storing explosives was allowed to operate close to residential areas. She called for a full explanation from the authorities to the familes of the victims.
The TNLA is one of the most powerful ethnic armed group fighting against the military junta in Myanmar. AFP reported that many such groups rely on mining precious minerals to fund their campaigns. However, inadequate safety measures frequently lead to mine collapses and other accidents.
