Myanmar Explosion Kills Dozens in Rebel-Held Village

At least 55 people were killed and dozens more wounded in an explosion in the village of Kaung Tat in Myanmar's Shan State, near the Chinese border. The blast occurred in a region controlled by the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), which is currently battling the country's military junta.

A source familiar with the situation reported 25 women and 30 men among the dead. Rescue teams are searching for survivors trapped under rubble.

The TNLA said the explosion was caused by mining and quarrying explosives. Residents initially feared an air strike. Hundreds of homes were damaged, affecting nearly an entire neighborhood. Children were among the dead. One resident described the scene as 'the world had come to an end' and questioned why explosives were stored near residential areas.