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VIENTIANE, March 22 (Xinhua) -- A buried bomb exploded on Tuesday in Paek district, northern Xieng Khuang province, killing one child and injuring five adults and seven children, Lao officials said on Wednesday.
Three people were seriously injured and underwent surgery in the provincial hospital to remove the shrapnel. One person remains in critical condition, the head of the hospital's surgical team, Dr Sivay Vongthongchit, was quoted by Lao state-run media Vientiane Times as saying.
The tragedy happened on Tuesday afternoon at the home of a family in Nhotngeum village where relatives and children gathered for a traditional ceremony, Chief of the district Police Headquarters Lieutenant Colonel Khamphay Phomchaleun said.
The tragic accident is the first to occur in the province this year. Last year, there were three UXO explosions in Xieng Khuang, injuring seven people and no deaths were reported.
Statistics show that over the past four decades since the war ended in 1975, UXOs have killed and maimed tens of thousands of civilians in Laos, according to Vientiane Times. Enditem
