Mine event in Wa Taw Kwin area, Myanmar on Sun 18th October 2026

It is understood from local residents that a woman from Wa Taw Kwin Village in Laymyethna Township, Ayeyarwady Region, died after stepping on and triggering a landmine.

At around 10:00 AM on 18 October, Daw Hla Hla Yi, a 37-year-old resident of Wa Taw Kwin Village, stepped on a landmine while searching for bamboo shoots in a forest near the village.

A local resident said: “It is understood that she stepped on the mine while searching for bamboo shoots in the forest. She sustained injuries all over her body and died. Because of incidents like this, local residents are worried about travelling into the forest.”

It is understood that there are forests and hills near Wa Taw Kwin Village, and that local residents commonly go into the forest to search for bamboo shoots and gather natural forest products for their livelihood.

It has not yet been possible to confirm which group planted the landmine that the woman stepped on.

It is understood that since the military seized power, incidents of people stepping on landmines have occurred frequently throughout Myanmar, and there have also been civilian casualties and deaths.