Huge blast kills dozens in rebel-held village in Myanmar

A devastating explosion has killed at least 55 people and wounded dozens more in a village in a region of Myanmar under insurgent control.

A source familiar with the situation on the ground in Kaung Tat, a village in Namkham Township in Shan State, near the Chinese border, said 25 women and 30 men had died. Other reports gave slightly different figures.

A huge cloud of smoke could be seen billowing over the village shortly after the blast occurred on Sunday.

The Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which controls the area and has been fighting the military junta, said explosives used in mining and quarrying had gone off.

The "accidental explosion" occurred around 12:00 local time (05:30 GMT) on Sunday, according to a TNLA statement quoted by news agency AFP.

Source: BBC