A farmer in his 40s was seriously injured after stepping on a mine on his property in O'Smach commune, in Oddar Meanchey province's Samrong town on November 21.

Samrong town police chief Horm Phirum said the man was cutting weeds to plant crops when he stepped on the mine and sustained a severe injury to his left leg. He is currently getting treatment at the provincial hospital.

“He does farm work near his house every year and there has never been a problem like that. This time he stepped on a mine left over from war times and it exploded. There hasn’t been danger in our area before. This is the first case,” Phirum said.

According to the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), in the first 10 months of this year, there were 41 cases involving mines. The explosions caused 16 deaths and 29 injuries. Ten people were left paralysed.

Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) director-general Heng Ratana said mine accidents happened regularly along the Cambodian-Thai border.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) president Yuichi Sugano, who recently departed his post, met with Ratana on November 20 and said Jica will continue to support CMAC through technical aid.