A landmine explosion in an agricultural field severely injured nine workers in Penjwen district, Sulaymaniyah province, on Friday morning. The blast occurred around 8:30 a.m. while the laborers were carrying out routine farming activities.

A local health official confirmed the incident to BasNews, stating that the landmine detonated suddenly, wounding all nine individuals at the site. Five of the injured were reported to be in critical condition and were urgently transported by ambulance to hospitals in Sulaymaniyah for advanced medical care. The identities of the victims have not yet been released by authorities.

Penjwen, a border district near Iran, has long been plagued by remnants of unexploded ordnance (UXO) from the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war. Local officials have repeatedly warned civilians about the persistent dangers of landmines and other wartime explosives in the area.

An investigation is underway to determine the origin of the landmine and assess whether more threats remain in the vicinity. Authorities have urged residents to exercise extreme caution in agricultural and rural zones where undetected explosives may still be buried.

This incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by communities in conflict-affected regions, decades after wars have ended. Demining efforts in the area have been ongoing, but many hazardous remnants remain, posing a continuous threat to civilians.