Woman dies after stepping on landmine while searching for phone signal

22 March 2024 , 16:01

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Leidy Lazaro Pava was killed (Image: Newsflash)

A woman died in a freak accident when she stepped on a landmine while searching for a signal for her mobile phone.

Leidy Lazaro Pava died in the incident in the village of El Reventon, Norte de Santander department, Colombia, on Monday. The 38-year-old woman was killed after stepping on the mine while she was searching for a signal with her husband Lenin Guerrero, who was also seriously injured in the incident and taken to Emiro Quintero Canizares Hospital in Ocana.

The place where the incident happened is known for the presence of the guerillas of the National Liberation Army (ELN), and drug trafficking gangs, which are fighting for control of the drug trafficking chain in the area, according to local media. Human rights coordinator Orangel Galviz Navas said: "This regrettable loss is a reminder of the importance of resolving the armed conflict in Colombia in a peaceful and lasting manner.

She was just 38 (Newsflash)

"The peasant communities ask for justice for Leidy Jhoana and demand that measures be taken to prevent tragedies like this from continuing to occur in the territory." The Ombudsman's Office said: "We regret the death of Leidy Lazaro Pava and our solidarity with Lenin Guerrero, who was injured by a tragic accident caused by the activation of an anti-personnel mine in the Lagunitas village, municipality of La Playa de Belen, in Norte de Santander."

The Mirror joined the fight for a global ban on the use of landmines in war. Up to 20 people a day lose limbs or are killed by mines and improvised explosive devices littering current and former war zones. In 2020 we backed the International Campaign To Ban Landmines, which also demands commitment to help victims.

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