SA KAEO, THAILAND – A Chinese man was severely injured by a landmine while allegedly trying to cross illegally into Thailand at the Cambodian border.
Explosion in forest border zone
Around 5:50 a.m., the Burapha Task Force reported an explosion in a forested area near Sri Phen Road, with border patrols hearing the blast some 80 to 90 meters from the roadway. Thai authorities immediately deployed a drone to assess the situation from the air. They located a badly injured man calling for help in English, who appeared to have stepped on a landmine.
High-risk rescue in active minefield
Specialists from the Humanitarian Mine Action unit were sent into the minefield, supported by border patrol teams who provided first aid on site. The man was identified as Shi Jingui, a 26-year-old from China’s Yunnan province, whose passport indicated an attempt to enter Thailand illegally. The incident occurred in Ban Nong Chan, an area known for clandestine border crossings.
Old mines still threaten border communities
The sector where the explosion took place was known for old landmines left from past conflicts. Thai authorities began clearance operations in the affected zone to prevent further incidents. The injured man was transported to Khoksung Hospital in the eastern border region, though officials did not release details about his condition, and his case was placed under investigation by immigration police in Sa Kaeo.
Pattern of dangerous illegal crossings
Officials noted that the episode was part of a broader pattern of people using natural paths to cross the Thai‑Cambodian frontier, often with fatal outcomes. The region remained littered with hidden mines from earlier conflicts, and the Thai army had long warned of the dangers.
“The mine explosion once again highlights the brutal realities of illegal migration.”
said the First Army Region, which confirmed that the man had attempted to enter illegally.
Tragic warning from a mined frontier
Authorities continued to investigate how the incident unfolded while the injured Chinese national fought for his life.
“His fate is a tragic warning to anyone who believes they can simply ignore borders.”
said the First Army Region. Officials stressed that deadly remnants of past conflicts still lurked in the forests along Thailand’s borders, posing ongoing risks to would‑be illegal crossers and local communities alike.