Woman killed, two wounded in Ponnagyun Twsp landmine blast

By Hnin Nwe 09 Oct 2020

Hnin Nwe | DMG
9 October 2020, Sittwe 

A woman was killed and two others were injured when a landmine exploded on October 9 near Van Vwe village in Ponnagyun Township, Arakan State, locals said. 

A group of two men and four women were traversing a hillside about 1 mile from the village when the deadly blast occurred, according to residents. 

Nineteen-year-old Ma San San Aye was killed and two other women — Ma Htwe, 25, and Ma Hla Pyae Ma, 22 — were injured, according to a family member of the deceased. 

“That group left the village after having a meal to dig for phyan oo [an edible shoot],” said a source in the village. “The mine exploded on their way, with one woman’s leg severed while the two others were injured. The amputee died on the way to hospital due to blood loss.” 

The two wounded women have been sent to Yoe Tayoke station hospital, villagers said. 

Amyotha Hluttaw representative U Khin Maung Latt said there had been similar cases of landmine explosions in the area. 

“There have been mine explosions quite often in the area. There were similar mine explosions in Kan Thit and Budaw villages in the past,” the MP said. 

An 18-year-old woman from Ponnagyun Township’s Buddaw village who went out to dig bamboo shoots was seriously injured by a landmine blast on September 5. 

Similarly, two villagers from Kanthit village in Ponnagyun stepped on a landmine in May while venturing out to gather firewood, with both villagers losing their legs.