Landmine Explosion Claims Life in Choman’s Halgurd Highlands
Mohammed Jabbar, director of Choman General Hospital, told Kurdistan24 correspondent Tayfur Mohammed that the victim, identified as 25-year-old Karzan Mirza from Nawanda village, succumbed to his injuries after being struck by the blast.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – A landmine explosion in the highlands of Khwari Miran, located on the slopes of Mount Halgurd in Erbil’s Choman district, killed one person on Wednesday afternoon.
Mohammed Jabbar, director of Choman General Hospital, told Kurdistan24 correspondent Tayfur Mohammed that the victim, identified as 25-year-old Karzan Mirza from Nawanda village, succumbed to his injuries after being struck by the blast.
Medical teams from Choman Hospital arrived at the scene shortly after the incident. Jabbar added that the landmines in the area are remnants of the eight-year war between Iraq and Iran.
According to the Kurdistan Mine Action Agency – Erbil, landmines and unexploded ordnance continue to pose a threat across the Kurdistan Region. Since the beginning of 2025, 13 people have been affected by such explosions—six killed and seven injured, many left with permanent disabilities.
Reportedly, approximately 5,225 mine-related deaths have been recorded in Iraq since the Iran-Iraq War.
With landmines populating 650 million square meters of land, Iraq has the most landmines of any country worldwide, according to the international Landmine Monitor. Of the approximately 650 million square meters containing explosives in the country, nearly half (314 million) are in the Kurdistan Region.
This makes the Kurdistan Region one of the most heavily mine-affected areas globally. The presence of these explosives not only endangers lives but also hinders agricultural and economic development in the region. Efforts to clear these areas remain ongoing but face significant challenges due to the scale and complexity of the problem.
