Tragedy struck again in Mexico, where two soldiers lost their lives in a deadly explosion caused by an improvised landmine. This is the second such incident this week in the western state of Michoacán, known for its ongoing crime struggles.
The soldiers were reportedly trying to disarm the device when it suddenly went off late on Tuesday in the town of Buenavista. According to reports from El Universal, the blast took place while the troops were searching for similar landmines thought to be hidden in the area.
Just a day earlier, another improvised landmine explosion killed two soldiers and injured five others in the same region. Before that blast, the soldiers had come across the dismembered bodies of three victims, officials shared.
Authorities believe that local criminal groups, locked in a turf war with a larger drug cartel, are behind planting these deadly devices. Since late 2018, at least six soldiers have fallen victim to similar explosions, highlighting the dangers soldiers face on the frontlines of Mexico’s battle with drug-related violence.
Sadly, this is just a glimpse of the wider issue. Mexico has been grappling with drug-related violence for years, with over 450,000 lives lost since 2006, when the government first deployed the military to fight cartels. In fact, last year saw a sharp increase in attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs), with 42 soldiers, police officers, and suspects injured by IEDs in the first part of 2023 alone. This is a significant rise from the 16 injuries reported the year before.
Overall, in 2023, a total of 556 explosive devices were discovered across the country, including roadside bombs, drones, and car bombs. These shocking numbers reflect the rising risks for everyone involved in this ongoing war against organized crime in Mexico.
