Deminers race to remove UXO near border as blast injures three
CMAC deminers remove unexploded munitions in Preah Vihear province near the Cambodia-Thailand border on Friday. CMAC
#National
Synopsis: Locals warned to stay cautious as authorities rush to clear civilian areas of unexploded bombs for safe resettlement and rebuilding.
Unexploded munitions left over from the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict continue to threaten civilian safety, with three people wounded last week, as authorities race to clear contaminated civilian areas.
On Thursday, three people were injured when a cluster munition exploded in in Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province.
Cambodia Mine Action Centre (CMAC) Director-General Heng Ratana said the blast occurred when workers stepped on unexploded cluster sub-munitions while installing electrical infrastructure.
Two of the victims sustained serious injuries while the third was lightly wounded.
The explosion underscored the dangers facing civilians and workers operating in affected regions.
Meanwhile, CMAC specialists neutralised two MK-82 aerial bombs, each weighing more than 230 kilogrammes, during clearance operations in the border conflict zone.
According to CMAC, the bombs—manufactured in January 2010 and May 2011—were dropped last December 11 during fighting along the Cambodia-Thailand frontier.
Mine clearance efforts remain highly risky. During an operation on Wednesday in Slakram commune, Svay Chek district, Banteay Meanchey province, CMAC teams used mechanical equipment to remove 10 M46 cluster sub-munitions. While nine were safely cleared, one sub-munition detonated during the operation.
Ratana renewed warnings to displaced residents returning home near the border, private companies, and public institutions operating in former conflict zones to exercise the highest level of caution.
“I appeal to all local villagers, the private and public sectors living and working in the affected areas to closely collaborate with local authories or CMAC to prevent incidents caused by Thailand’s remnants of war,” Ratana said.
As clearance efforts continue, unexploded munitions remain scattered across farmland, villages, and infrastructure corridors, underscoring the long-term humanitarian impact of border conflicts and the urgent need for sustained demining operations.
-Khmer Times-
—————-
