A suspected landmine blast in northern Shan State has killed one child and left another four injured.
The explosion in Mone Paw Village Group, Muse township, occurred on December 19, according to a local resident who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“I think it was a landmine. It was set up near the junction between Ho Nar Village and Man Tai Village. Five children were coming back from school and one of the children saw the mine. Another child hit it with a rock and he died on the spot,” said the resident.
All of the children were between the ages of 8 and 13.
All four of the injured school kids were sent to Muse General Hospital for emergency care, but two were transferred to the Lashio General Hospital overnight due to the severity of their wounds.
“Particles from the blast entered the area between the stomach and pelvic area of one of the children. He needs to undergo an operation,” the resident said.
Another resident of Muse said two children who stayed behind in the Muse General Hospital continues to also be serious and so they too need to be transferred to Lashio for medical attention.
“The children will be sent to Lashio today. The Muse [General Hospital] is unable to treat them,” said the resident.
The Muse General Hospital confirmed that the two children will be sent to Lashio General Hospital.
The resident said they did not know which armed group had planted the mine.
The Tatmadaw, the Mone Paw People’s Militia, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and other ethnic armed organizations are all active in the area.
Similar blasts took place in Mone Paw once in 2016 and twice this year.
