Rathedaung young man dies after stepping on landmine, 2 others injured

Thinzar Nwe, Narinjara News, 18 May 2024

A young man from Kyauk Tan village under  Rathedaung township of Rakhine State was killed by a landmine explosion. Two others were also injured in the incident.

The victim is identified as Maung Khin Than (16) and the injured are  Maung Aung Moe Oo (18) and Maung Soe Tin Than (16).

The three young men were coming from Kyauk Tan  to Kan Pyin village on the bank of Mayu river. After reaching near Kan Pyin school, Maung Khin Than accidentally stepped on a landmine, planted by the junta forces, where he sustained serious injury to his legs. He was sent to the hospital but succumbed to injuries.

The other two young men sustained injuries across their bodies.

"Even though there is no fighting in our locality, we are still losing our people due to landmine blasts. Many landmines were planted near the school buildings also. So the situation emerges as very grave for us. We hope the  landmines will be cleared soon,” said a local lady.

In March and April this year, four civilians lost their lives and 12 individuals lost their legs. Fifteen others sustained injuries due to landmine explosions in the Rakhine region, said a report of Narinjara News.

According to the landmine & cluster munitions monitor, there were 384 deaths and 124 injuries because of  landmines in 2022 across Myanmar.

Rakhine Ethnic Congress has recorded  76 deaths from landmines in Rakhine localities from 2018 to 2023, where eight casualties were reported last year.