DESTRUCTION:
The rebel army said the unexplained detonation of explosives it stored for mining purposes killed at least 39 people, and apologized deeply for the ‘accident’
The unexplained detonation of explosives stored by one of Myanmar’s rebel armies has killed dozens, the militia that controls the village and witnesses said yesterday, as the search for survivors continued amid widespread devastation at the site.The explosion in Kaung Tat Village happened around noon on Sunday, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) said. A TNLA spokesperson yesterday said a hospital tally put the death toll at 39, with 75 injured, in the first official toll the group has issued. That was lower than a reported death toll of at least 55 from local media and witness accounts.
A handout photo provided by Palaung Land shows rescuers and local residents carrying out search operations in the aftermath of an explosion in Kaung Tat Village in Shan State, Myanmar, on Sunday.
“Everything was completely destroyed beyond recognition,” resident Moe Z said.He was traveling with a group of friends on a road about 2.4km away when the explosion happened, saying a mushroom cloud of smoke billowed into the sky.
