Two men were hospitalised for injuries caused by an anti-tank mine that exploded while they were driving their rice harvesting machine in Kanteu I commune's Thmey village of Battambang province’s Banan district on August 12.

District police chief Pann Vanny told The Post on August 13 that the two men are villagers from neighboring Cheng Meanchey commune.

“The explosion broke the machine into pieces, scattering them metres away. The driver sustained severe injuries on his back. Doctors said his bones have cracked. Another man on the same machine was slightly injured.

“It was so fortunate that they survived such a big explosion,” Vanny said.

He said the rice field has been cultivated by villagers since 1979 and there had never been any explosion of ordnance left from war. He noted that the area was a former battlefield between government and Khmer Rouge forces.

He said there remains some explosive remnants of war though the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has cleared the area before.

CMAC director-general Heng Ratana offered his condolences to the victims.

He said his force will work on this case and do more research in the area.