Suicide drone explosion near Myanmar border kills three in Thai territory
A suicide drone exploded near Myanmar, killing a family of three in Thai territory.
Burmese worker Makhai, 25, reportedly found the object while harvesting chillies in Tak province on June 2.
She called over her husband Tuya, 37, their son Kala, 11, and several co-workers to inspect the device that looked like a toy glider.
But the drone exploded, instantly killing Makhai and leaving her husband and son with shrapnel wounds. Two other workers, Chito, 31, and Manai, 30, were seriously injured.
Police arrived at the scene after locals reported the explosion, followed by smoke billowing from the area.
They found the wrecked drone lying near a large tree. Around 10 metres away, the family were discovered lying in a crater on the dirt road.
Tuya and Kala were rushed to hospital with severe injuries but died en route. Chito and Manai were taken to Mae Sot Hospital in critical condition.
Police believe the drone veered off course into Thailand during clashes between the Burmese army and Karen armed forces.
Officials have not clarified which side launched the drone.
Police Colonel Anusorn Dungkong, local police chief, said the area has been cordoned off for investigations.
He added: 'Three people have died, all of them Myanmar migrant workers, and two others were injured.
'Initial investigations found that the migrant workers were harvesting peppers near the Thai-Myanmar border that morning, while intense fighting was taking place across the border in Myanmar throughout the day.
'A suicide drone resembling a medium-sized glider then crossed into Thailand and crashed into a large tree. An explosive device attached to the drone became detached on impact and landed in the chilli field where the workers were carrying out their duties.'
Authorities said more than 3,000 people were displaced and around 200 crossed into Thailand's Tak province as fierce clashes erupted between Myanmar troops and Karen rebels earlier that morning.
Thai officials provided shelter and deployed border police to the fleeing civilians.
Myanmar has fallen into civil war following the removal of democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, with a military coup in 2021.
Soldiers responded with barbaric force on protesting civilians, leading to widespread condemnation and financial sanctions. Rebel groups and civilian militias around the country have since been locked in a series of ongoing clashes with the ruling military.
Aung San Suu Kyi has since been jailed for 33 years on politically motivated charges and is likely to die behind bars unless the army is toppled - a tragic end the politician hailed by Barack Obama as an 'inspirational icon of democracy'.
