Stories from the minefields



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Maglaj: Man Killed by Landmine Explosion


11/18/2009 - Maglaj – Sead Hadzic (47) was killed yesterday after a landmine exploded while he was cutting wood in the area of Plane in Bijela ploca, near Maglaj. His wife, Devla, was badly injured and lost an arm. Despite being badly injured she managed to leave the minefield on her own and was transported to the cantonal hospital in Zenica.

Members of the police station in Maglaj, the professional fire brigade, the Municipal Department of Civil Protection, health care workers and members of the Federal Administration of Civil protection went to the site.

“We keep warning about mines in this area. There are markers placed in the field but the struggle for life and survival is obviously stronger than the potential danger”, said Rasim Bilic from the Department of Civil Protection of the Municipality of Maglaj. Yesterday at 3 o’clock members of the Federal Administration of Civil Protection demining team removed the body of the deceased Sead Hadzic. The Canton Prosecutor, Amra Ahmetlic, was present at the site.

Local residents of Plane were present at the site because they had tried to help the injured man before the demining team arrived. The evacuation was difficult due to a forest fire that was spreading form another location. Rasim Karabegovic, an inhabitant of Plane, was very distressed:
 
“Plane is full of landmines. Some places have been cleared but that is not enough. People go to forests and look for firewood and this is how it ends. Several years ago I also lost part of heel on the right leg trying to save an injured person in a minefield. I learned a lesson”, said Karabegovic.

Since the end of war there have been 46 mine victims in the Municipality of Maglaj. Out of this total 23 people were killed.

Source: DNEVNI AVAZ



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