Death toll from explosion in northern Shan State’s Namkham reaches 56

At least 56 civilians were killed and 150 others were injured after an explosion at a storage facility for explosives in Namhkam Township’s Kaungtup village on Sunday, rescue groups in northern Shan State told DVB on Monday.

Most injured are in critical condition at the Namhkam Hospital. Namhkam is located 128 miles (205 km) north of the regional capital Lashio and about 2 miles (3 km) south of the Burma-China border.

A rescue worker told DVB on the condition of anonymity that the injured are receiving treatment at the hospital but are in need of urgent blood transfusions.

Over 200 homes were also destroyed by the explosion at the facility storing explosives used for mining, according to the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) in a statement on May 31. Namhkam was seized by the TNLA in 2023 during Operation 1027.

The Ta’ang Land Council (TLC), the governing body of territory under TNLA control, called for an investigation into the incident on June 1.

An explosion at a gunpowder production facility in Pangsang Township on April 7 led to 160 casualties.

Pangsang is located along the China border in the Wa Self-Administered Division of northern Shan and is the headquarters of the United Wa State Army (UWSA).