Yangon : Three people were killed and another three were wounded by a mine blast in a conflict-plagued region of eastern Myanmar where martial law had only recently been lifted, state media reported today.
The explosion hit a truck in Chin Swe Haw town, in northern Shan State’s Laukkai district, in the early hours of yesterday morning, the Burmese language Myanma Alinn newspaper said.
Two men and a woman were killed by the blast, while another three were being treated in hospital.
The paper reported that officials found another improvised explosive device near the scene of the first blast that had not detonated.
Laukkai has been the scene of heavy fighting throughout much of the year between the military and ethnic Kokang rebels.
The fighting forced tens of thousands of refugees to flee into neighboring China earlier this year, causing a spike in tensions between Beijing and Naypyidaw.
A state of emergency was declared shortly after hostilities broke out and was only lifted last month, following landmark elections.
Myanmar’s border regions have long been plagued by civil wars and insurgencies.
The military-backed government has pushed for a wide ceasefire but some groups, including Kokang rebel fighters, have been left out of negotiations.
PTI