Explosion in Laiza: Ammonium Nitrate (Gunpowder) warehouse exploded

An explosion occurred in Monlaikhat Laiza area in Kachin State in the evening of October 9, causing KIA members and their families killed and injured.

Regarding the incident, some media criticized that the incident was due to the air bombardment by the Tatmadaw and some wrongly accused that the explosion was caused by open fires with heavy weapons.

According to ground investigation about the explosion and the reports of hard core informers, the Ammonium Nitrate (Gunpowder) warehouse at the KIA Training School near Monlaikhat was exploded.

These ammonium nitrate (gunpowder) are owned by KIA group leaders and Daw Ahli (Ahli Kye). About 105 tons of ammonium nitrate (gunpowder) and other explosive materials are stored in that warehouse.

In the evening of 9th October, the flash explosion occurred because of an accident. The cause of explosion is under investigation and members of police force from China are still investigating the cause at the China Border Gate.

Similarly, ammunitions and mines caused massive explosions and damages due to various reasons at the ammunition storage facility near Myanmar-China border on 6th September 2019 and at the mine factory in Jar Htoo Gaung in Laiza area on 21st September in 2020.

The incidents claimed to the lives of KIA members and family members and caused injured, it have been known through the social media.

Tatmadaw announced that the military movements of the Tatmadaw except for the attack to hamper the security of the government and administrative mechanisms in addition to the State defence and administrative affairs will be suspended until December 31st 2023 for achieving eternal peace that is the desire of entire people and to continue to implement peace dialogue processes.

Moreover, in order to achieve eternal peace throughout the country, it adhere the agreements of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA). It is undertaking measures to hold the 8th Anniversary of NCA with full essence soon and ethnic armed organizations are being invited to attend and the door for peace is still open until now. 

Regarding this incident, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun, the Leader of the Information Team of the State Administration Council, provided an elaboration on Wednesday.

He stated that Monlaikhat is commonly referred to as an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp, and the KIA Training School is located nearby, where ammonium nitrate (gunpowder) is stored and owned by KIA leaders.

He emphasized that the explosion was a result of an accident within this warehouse. He also pointed out that, contrary to accusations, the Tatmadaw did not conduct any bomb attacks in the area. In terms of casualties, he expressed condolences for the loss of citizens' lives.

He noted that KIA had previously established training camps and military bases under the guise of IDP Camps, which had caused harm to the local ethnic population. Therefore, he advised against using civilians as human shields in military operations and urged against storing explosive items near residential areas.