Two Mexican soldiers were killed in an explosion caused by an improvised landmine in Michoacan, a crime-ridden western state. The soldiers were attempting to deactivate the device when it went off. This incident marks the second deadly occurrence involving a landmine this week.
The explosion occurred in Buenavista on Tuesday, and authorities suspect that similar devices may have been planted in the area. Just the day before, another blast from an improvised landmine killed two soldiers and injured five others. Prior to the explosion, the soldiers had found three dismembered bodies in the same region.
Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla believes that a local criminal group may be responsible for planting these devices as part of a turf war with a larger drug cartel. Since late 2018, six soldiers have been killed by similar homemade bombs.
Mexico continues to struggle with drug-related violence, with over 450,000 people killed since the army was deployed to combat drug trafficking in 2006. In August 2023, a report revealed that a total of 42 soldiers, police, and suspects were wounded by improvised explosive devices in the first seven and a half months of the year, compared to 16 in all of 2022. The army found 556 improvised explosive devices, including roadside, drone-carried, and car bombs, in 2023.
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