Kyaukphyu man loses leg in landmine explosion

By Admin 09 Apr 2024

DMG Newsroom
9 April 2024, Kyaukphyu

A local man was severely injured after stepping on a landmine near a hill between two villages in Arakan State’s Kyaukphyu Township on Tuesday morning.

U Soe Min Tun, 45, from Malakyun Village was walking to Ngakaungsu hill to collect vegetables at around 7 a.m. on April 9 when he stepped on the landmine. He lost his right leg in the mine blast.

“There are many vegetable farms near the scene of the landmine blast. He stepped on a landmine while going to the vegetable farms. He has been hospitalised,” said a resident of Malakyun Village.

Local residents said that junta soldiers often visit the hill where the landmine exploded.

“We all know that landmines are planted by the junta soldiers. Junta soldiers along with landmines often go to the vegetable farms and come back to their camps bringing the vegetables,” said an eyewitness.

Local people from Malakyun, Leikkhamaw and Pyinchay villages are worried about the risks of landmines near their farmlands.

There have been at least eight landmine explosions since January in Kyaukphyu, killing two and injuring eight.

Mine blasts have killed or injured more than 20 civilians in Kyaukphyu, Minbya, Myebon, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Ann townships since renewed fighting broke out in November of last year.

In Myanmar, the death toll due to landmines and ERWs continues to rise. In 2022, 390 people died due to landmines and ERWs, and in 2023, there were 188 killed and 864 injured, totaling 1,025, according to UNICEF Myanmar.