One woman died and three others injured after a rocket they found exploded when one of them touched it.

One woman died and three others injured after a rocket they found exploded when one of them touched it. The incident happened on April 27 around 11am in Kandal village, O’Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province.

According to O’Chrov district deputy police chief Lieutenant Colonel Mann Thy, the four victims were all related. Chea Sar, 25, and Chea Sreymouy, 34, were sisters while Sok Panha, 12 and Kea Samnang were Sremouy’s nephews.

“Before the incident, the four of them were walking around the area to pick some fruit (Jambolan Plum). Sok Panha came across an object he was unfamiliar with placed on top of a termite nest. It was a B40 rocket. When he tried to play with it, the rocket exploded,” said Lt Col Thy.

He added the two sisters worked in a potato farm in Chork Puok village, Svay Chek district.

“Through our investigations, we learnt a villager first came upon the rocket lying idle in the area. He placed it on the termite nest to put it out of harm’s way and left. The young boy, Sok Panha, who was out picking fruit with his aunts and brother was curious when he saw the object on the termite nest, not realising it was a live rocket. Since he did not know what it was, he touched it and it exploded. The rocket is a UXO left over from the civil war.”

Chea Sar’s body was sent to the family for conducting the last rites.

The three others who were injured are recovering at Soeng Hospital.