Urgent! An incident occurred in Ban Nong Jan. An explosive ordnance disposal officer. Stepped on a PMN mine while on a border clearance mission, resulting in the loss of his left leg and critical condition. He was initially transported to Aranyaprathet Hospital.
On 29 July 2026, reports stated that at 09:00 a.m., Humanitarian Mine Action Unit 1 began routine operations in a hazardous area at Ban Nong Jan, Non Mak Mun Subdistrict, Khok Sung District, Sa Kaeo Province. This area is outside active conflict zones but contains leftover mines and unexploded ordnance from past events.
The hazardous area covers 80,800 square meters. Unit 1 had already cleared and verified safety over 62,000 square meters, with 18,800 square meters remaining—approximately 23.27 percent of the total area still needing clearance.
During this mission, Sergeant Major Udomsak Nukmun, a technical survey officer from the 30th Cavalry Battalion, was assigned to perform technical surveys within the hazardous area to detect and map remaining mines. While surveying, he detected a line of PMN mines—an old anti-personnel type buried in the ground—and proceeded to carefully examine the surrounding area to define the minefield boundary and prepare for standard clearance procedures.
However, at about 11:00 a.m., an unexpected incident occurred when the officer stepped on an active PMN mine, causing a powerful explosion. This resulted in the amputation of his left ankle and multiple severe shrapnel wounds to his left arm. Despite the serious injuries, the officer remained conscious and alert throughout.
Following the incident, the team immediately halted operations for the safety of all personnel. They provided initial first aid, controlled bleeding, and coordinated the urgent evacuation of the injured officer according to established mine incident response protocols.
The injured officer was then transported to Aranyaprathet Hospital in Sa Kaeo Province at 11:20 a.m. for urgent medical treatment. Medical staff are currently closely monitoring his condition and evaluating further treatment options.