At least seven people, including a Chinese owner, four workers and two residents, were killed and 11 were injured during an explosion at an explosives storage facility in Kachin State’s Pangwa town in Chipwi Township on Friday.
Pangwa, located along the Myanmar-China border and 114-158 miles (183-254 km) northeast of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) headquarters in Laiza, was seized by the KIA on Oct. 19, 2024.
Naw Bu, the KIA spokesperson, told the Myitkyina News Journal that the explosives were intended for mining operations. Pangwa is a hub for Myanmar’s lucrative rare earth mining, which was reportedly worth $1.4 billion USD in 2023.
A Pangwa resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity that five of the 11 injured were in critical condition at the hospital.
The KIA launched a statewide offensive on March 7, 2024, which has led to the seizure of the northern Kachin mining towns of Chipwi, Pangwa and Tsawlaw, as well as Sumprabum, Injangyang and northern Shan State’s Mabein Township.
At least 15 people were either killed or injured during an explosion at an explosives storage facility operated by the ethnic Kokang armed group, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), in Hsenwi Township’s Man Mai village in northern Shan on Sept. 8.
Hsenwi, located 31 miles (49 km) north of the regional capital Lashio, was seized by the MNDAA on Jan. 7, 2024.
At least 56 civilians were killed and 150 others were injured after an explosion at a storage facility run by the ethnic Palaung armed group, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), in Namhkam Township’s Kaungtup village on May 31.
Namhkam is located 128 miles (205 km) north of Lashio and about two miles (3 km) south of the Myanmar-China border. It was seized by the TNLA in 2023.
