The blast occurred around noon in Kaungtup village in Namhkam township, an area located about three kilometres south of the Chinese border.

The region is controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has been involved in intermittent conflict with Myanmar’s central government.

A rescue worker at the scene said 46 bodies, including six children, had been recovered by Sunday evening and taken for cremation.

The worker, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said 74 injured people had been transferred to the township hospital while rescue efforts continued.

Another rescuer said about 40 people were killed and more than 100 houses near the blast site were damaged.

Independent Myanmar media outlets reported death tolls ranging from 50 to 55.

Images and videos published by local media showed thick smoke rising from the explosion site and widespread damage to nearby buildings.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that the explosion caused multiple casualties and severe damage to residential homes, but did not provide specific figures.

According to preliminary investigations cited by CCTV, the explosion occurred at a facility where large quantities of explosives used for mining operations were stored.

Authorities are providing relief assistance, medical treatment and temporary resettlement support to affected residents, the report said.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the TNLA said gelignite had been stored by its economic department for use in mining and stone quarrying operations.

The group added that an investigation into the cause of the explosion was underway.

Gelignite is commonly used in mining and rock blasting, but can become unstable if stored improperly or for extended periods.

The TNLA is part of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, which gained control of the Namhkam area after launching a major offensive against Myanmar’s military in northeastern regions in late 2023.

Although the TNLA signed a ceasefire agreement with Myanmar’s military following China-mediated talks in October last year, tensions between the two sides remain.

Myanmar has remained politically unstable since the military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, 2021.

The takeover triggered widespread opposition, and armed conflict has since spread across large parts of the country.