On 6 February around 2 p.m., four civilians were killed on the spot by a landmine explosion in Loikaw Township in Karenni State. Two others were seriously wounded in the blast, and remain in critical condition.
Local people said that a Toyota Ipsum car detonated the landmine on the road outside of Zayap Phyu village, which is four miles south-east of the Karenni state capital city Loikaw. The landmine had been planted by the Burma Army, according to locals.
“The vehicle was travelling from Loikaw to Mawchi carrying iron rods. The vehicle detonated a landmine between Zayap Phyu and Nam Hu villages, which are not far from Loikaw town. The landmine explosion killed some people,” a male social volunteer team member working in Loikaw town (source 1) told NMG.
The four dead people include Ko Aung Soe Moe, Ko Tun Min Latt and Ko Sein Min. All of them are originally from Seik Phyu town in Magwe Region. The identities of the other dead person and two wounded people are not known. Eye witnesses said that all of the people killed and wounded in the landmine blast were men.
“ Their ID cards were destroyed by the landmine blast. Therefore, we do not know about their background. They are not IDPs. I think they are migrant workers who came to work in Karenni State,” a male volunteer (source 2) told NMG.
The two wounded people suffered injuries in their heads, bodies, legs and hands. They are receiving medical treatment at Loikaw public hospital. Local aid volunteers said that the wounded have not yet regained consciousness and remain in critical condition. Local people report that the Burma Army and Karenni resistance groups often had armed clashes around Zayap Phyu village.
Karenni resistance groups have warned people to not travel on the Loikaw to Mawchi road because the Burma Army has planted landmines on many of the vehicle roads around Loikaw Township.
From the 1 January to 6 February at least 10 civilians have been killed and at least 20 civilians have been wounded by the Burma Army’s artillery fire or landmines in Karenni state, according to Karenni volunteer teams.
