Blast kills dozens in rebel-held village in Myanmar

An detonation has killed astatine slightest 55 radical and wounded dozens much successful a colony successful a portion of Myanmar, formerly known arsenic Burma, nether insurgent control.

A root acquainted with the concern connected the crushed successful Kaung Tat, a colony successful Namkham Township successful Shan State, adjacent the Chinese border, told BBC Burma that 25 women and 30 men had died. Other reports gave somewhat antithetic casualty figures.

Rescue teams were searching for and extracting radical trapped beneath rubble, the root added.

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which controls the country and which has been engaged successful bitter warring with Myanmar's subject junta, said explosives utilized successful mining and quarrying had exploded.

Residents described scenes of devastation and disorder pursuing the explosion.

One wrote connected societal media that galore radical had initially believed the blast was caused by an aerial strike.

Children were among the dormant and hundreds of homes had been damaged, affecting astir an full neighborhood, according to the post.

"By sheer luck, my telephone saved my life," the nonmigratory wrote.

"I was sitting successful my chamber eating noodles and looking astatine my phone. If I had been eating successful the kitchen, I astir apt would not beryllium live today."

The resident, who said she had suffered a insignificant limb wounded and her ain location had been destroyed, described scenes of panic and grief successful the aftermath of the blast.

"People were crying, calling retired for their parents," she wrote. "It felt arsenic if the satellite had travel to an end."

She questioned wherefore a installation containing explosives had been allowed to run adjacent to residential areas, saying families of those killed would not beryllium satisfied unless the authorities provided a afloat explanation.