Thinzar Nwe — Two Muslim villagers died after attempting to cut an unexploded bomb with a knife in Minbya township of Rakhine State on Saturday.

The deceased have been identified as  U Adul Lameen (35) hailing from  Se Thay (Muslim) village and U Mar Mar Yena alias Mar Airnet (27) from  Tan Seik (Muslim) village under Mrauk U township.

Both of them were on their way to collect firewood from Far Pro (Rakhine) village on the evening of 14 February, when they found an unexploded bomb abandoned by the military junta forces. They  tried to cut it with a knife and it exploded, said a local individual of Minbya.

"They were hired to cut firewood. It happened when they went to get firewood. The bomb was left behind as the  junta forces deserted the area. They saw it lying in the mountain valley and tried to cut it with a knife," he added.

As the bomb exploded, both sustained serious injuries and died on the spot.

The locals are demanding the responsible officials clear the area very soon, as the number of explosive incidents in the Rakhine region has been increasing.

On the other hand, the Arakan Army is clearing these explosives in all the townships they have occupied. On 8 February, a Muslim child was seriously injured when a landmine exploded in Italy village near Maungdaw township.

Similarly, on 20 December 2025 a 14-year-old boy was killed and two others sustained  injuries when an explosive device detonated during their playtime in Kyintali township.

In Rakhine State last year, a total of 21 civilians were killed and 81 seriously injured due to landmines and other remnants of war explosions between 1 January and  31 December,  stated a report compiled by Narinjara News Agency.