One dead, four wounded in Andulo land mine explosion

One person was killed and four wounded when an anti-personnel mine exploded in the Andulo district of the Angolan central highlands, according to a hospital source, Lusa reported on Monday. The report said the tragedy occurred on Friday, when the five residents of Lungundua village were in the surrounding countryside seeking food and firewood. Lungundua is about 7 km west of the town of Andulo, a former UNITA rebel stronghold.

Local health official Kitangua Nanindo was quoted as saying that the condition the wounded was “extremely serious”, and that they were being treated at the Andulo municipal hospital. According to the report, the hospital has registered 13 people killed by land mine explosions since the beginning of the year. The Andulo district, like the nearby Nharea and Cuemba districts, is considered to be one of the most mined areas in the Angolan central highlands. Humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organisations have estimated that between eight and 10 million mines may be planted in Angolan soil, making it one of the most mined countries in the world.