A powerful explosion tore through a village in Myanmar's rebel-held territory yesterday, killing at least 40 people and wounding scores more. The blast, which witnesses described as a military airstrike, struck a crowded market in the northern Shan State, a stronghold of the Ta'ang National Liberation Army. The attack comes as the country's civil war intensifies, with the junta facing its biggest challenge since seizing power in 2021.
Local rescue workers said many of the victims were women and children. The death toll is expected to rise as emergency teams search through the rubble. Relief agencies have called for an immediate ceasefire, but fighting shows no sign of abating.
The junta has denied responsibility, blaming rebel groups for stockpiling explosives. However, satellite images indicate military jets were active in the area shortly before the blast. The international community has condemned the attack, with the UN calling for an independent investigation.
For the people of this remote village, already struggling under a brutal conflict, the explosion is a devastating blow. 'We have nothing left,' said one survivor, cradling her injured child. 'They have taken everything.
