A child was killed and four others injured when unexploded ordnance detonated in the Shapoli area of Dand Patan district, Paktia province, eastern Afghanistan, locals reported on Saturday, saying the incident occurred on Friday.
The device, a remnant of past wars, was found by children who began to play with it before it exploded, killing one child on the spot and injuring four others, police officials said.
Munib Zadran, the provincial police spokesperson, confirmed the explosion and described how the children had been playing with the device.
Afghanistan remains one of the world’s most heavily contaminated countries, officials say, with landmines and unexploded ordnance a legacy of more than four decades of successive wars and internal strife.
The incident highlights the ongoing danger posed by leftover munitions across the country as authorities continue to work to clear contaminated zones and protect civilians.