More than 45 people were killed and scores injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a building reportedly used to store mining explosives in northeastern Myanmar on Sunday, according to rescue workers and local media reports.

The blast occurred around midday in Kaungtup village of Namhkam township, near the Chinese border. The area is controlled by the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), an ethnic armed group that has been involved in intermittent conflict with Myanmar’s military government.

A rescue worker involved in the operation said 46 bodies, including those of six children, had been recovered by Sunday evening and taken for cremation. He added that 74 injured people were transported to a local hospital, while rescue efforts continued.

Another rescuer reported that more than 100 houses near the blast site were damaged.

Independent media outlets in Myanmar estimated the death toll at between 50 and 55, publishing images and videos showing extensive destruction, smoke and debris.

China’s state broadcaster CCTV also reported multiple casualties and severe damage to residential buildings, citing preliminary findings that large quantities of mining explosives had been stored at the site.

In a statement on Telegram, the TNLA said gelignite explosives kept by its economic department for mining and stone quarrying operations were stored at the facility. The group said an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the explosion.

Gelignite is commonly used in mining and blasting activities but can become unstable if improperly stored or kept for long periods.

The TNLA, a member of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, has controlled the Namhkam area since a major offensive against Myanmar’s military in late 2023. Although the group signed a China-brokered ceasefire with the military in October last year, tensions remain high.

Myanmar has been mired in conflict since the military seized power in February 2021, triggering widespread resistance and armed insurgencies across the country.