According to local residents, a woman from Kayokepi village, Thanbyuzayat township, Mon state, suffered serious leg injuries from a landmine explosion on February 7th.
At around 3:00 p.m. yesterday, Daw Ma Lay from Kayokepi village was collecting firewood at a rubber plantation near the village when she stepped on a landmine.
“Daw Ma Lay’s left leg was severed. Her right leg was also torn,” a resident said.
On January 31st, in Thanbyuzayat township, Ahnin and Htinshu villages were both the site of a battle between the military junta army and the joint revolutionary forces. Landmines or other artillery may have been planted at that time by these forces.
A resident of Thanbyuzayat said, “When there are fights, we become scared and run away. After the fighting is over, we still worry about landmines and other war remnants being left behind that can explode.”
Since the military coup began in 2021, landmine incidents have occurred in Thaton, Kyaikto, Bilin, and Ye townships and civilians are typically injured. Landmines are most often discovered in areas where the military junta forces and the People’s Defense Joint Force have been engaged in fighting.
In 2023, at least 16 landmine explosions occurred in Mon State, resulting in the deaths of 7 civilians and injuries to 13 others.
