A landmine explosion killed a five-year-old girl and injured five other children in Kutkai Township, located in northern Shan State.

Nang Keng Kham was playing with five other children on the property of a private residence in Kho Tin village when the anti-personnel mine went off this Thursday (July 30) at around 4:30 p.m. She died at 9:40 p.m. while receiving care for her injuries at Kutkai Public Hospital.

Nang Keng Kham was living with her grandpa. Her parents work in Tachilek Township, located in southern Shan State, near the Thai border.

Kyaw Tun, 7, Aye Lao, 8, and Aung Naing, 5, who were seriously injured from the blast, were transferred to Lashio Public hospital.

“Both legs of one child were hurt, another had a head wound and the third suffered a shoulder injury,” Kham Mart said. “People are shocked” because the explosion occurred at the compound of Nang Keng Kham’s grandfather’s house. “They can’t even feel safe living in their own house. It’s out of the question to forage for mushrooms in the jungle now.”

Sai Maung told SHAN residents are struggling to survive amid the pandemic and an uptick in fighting in northern Shan State. “This year we have so many difficulties. We have to fear landmines and conflicts, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Kho Tin is located about one mile from Kutkai town. Residents told SHAN the Burma Army IB-419, under LID-99, stayed in the village last year.

The Ta’ang National Liberation Army are also active in Kutkai Township.