Residents of Namkham Township are demanding accountability from the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Chinese government following a massive explosion at a warehouse storing mining explosives on May 31.

The blast in Kawng Tap Village, which local humanitarian groups say killed more than 60 people and injured over 100 others, has triggered widespread criticism over safety standards and the handling of explosive materials.

The warehouse, managed by the TNLA’s economic department, was reportedly used to store “soft explosives,” commonly referred to as dynamite, for local mining operations. Following the disaster, the TNLA issued statements in Burmese and Chinese describing the incident as an “accidental detonation.” The group said it would investigate the cause of the explosion and take legal action against those found responsible.

“The TNLA called it an ‘accident,’ but can that really be true?” a Namkham resident told SHAN. “They should never have stored explosive materials in a village where people live. This was not an accident—it was a deliberate decision to keep hazardous materials in a residential area without the public’s knowledge.”

The scale of the tragedy remains disputed. While the TNLA’s News and Information Department reported 43 deaths and 112 injuries on June 1, local rescue teams and volunteers maintain that the death toll has exceeded 60 and that more than 600 people have been displaced.

“The TNLA has not released a list of the workers who died in the warehouse, so the actual number remains unclear,” a volunteer assisting at the scene told SHAN. “Based on those who died at the scene, in hospitals, and the bodies that have been recovered, the number is already over 50. As for some workers who were inside the warehouse at the time of the explosion, no remains were recovered.”

The incident has also raised serious questions about safety practices at the facility. Footage from the scene reviewed by SHAN appeared to show bags containing explosive materials without warning labels or standard safety markings.

A legal expert consulted by SHAN argued that the circumstances point to potential criminal negligence rather than a simple accident.

“The transportation and storage of explosive materials in a residential area without proper safety measures or labeling raises serious legal concerns,” the expert said. “Those responsible were aware of the risks associated with these materials and had a duty to prevent foreseeable harm.”

The reported presence of Chinese nationals at the site has further fueled public concern over the origin and regulation of the explosives. While China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on June 2 that one Chinese national was injured in the blast, rescue workers told SHAN that at least three Chinese citizens were among the dead.

The legal expert said the source of the explosives warrants further scrutiny.

“We need to understand where these materials originated,” the expert said. “Some witnesses believe they were supplied from China. If that is the case, questions should be asked about how such materials were transferred and whether adequate oversight mechanisms were in place.”

Residents and analysts have called for greater transparency regarding the supply chain, storage, and use of explosive materials in conflict-affected areas.

In an effort to address the aftermath of the disaster, the TNLA announced that it would provide 10 million kyats in assistance to the family of each deceased victim. On June 6, senior TNLA officials attended a memorial service and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.

Despite these measures, the community faces a long recovery process. More than 70 people remain hospitalized in Namkham and Muse, while hundreds of residents have been displaced and are struggling to rebuild their lives in the wake of the explosion.