An explosion on Sunday devastated Kaung Tup, a village in northeastern Myanmar’s rebel-held territory. The blast originated from a warehouse storing explosives for mining.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, which oversees the region in Shan State near the Chinese border, reported the explosion as accidental. They are currently investigating the cause. Initial reports indicated that at least 55 people died, including children, based on local media and rescue-worker accounts.

Video shared online showed smoke followed by an intense secondary explosion. Some villagers initially feared it was a military air raid. Despite a cease-fire agreement in October, rebel sources claim government military attacks have persisted.

Resident Lway Poe Nge, who called from Kaung Tup, described the explosion’s deafening sound. “My house was completely destroyed,” she stated, recounting that she and her mother narrowly escaped. Tragically, her next-door cousin did not survive, as her house collapsed.