A Thai soldier was critically injured after stepping on an anti-personnel landmine inside a military base in Surin province on the morning of 27 February 2026. The explosion occurred at 06:44 at the Erawan operations base and involved a soldier from the 233rd Infantry Company, 23rd Infantry Battalion, 3rd Regiment. The blast severed his right leg and left him with shrapnel wounds to his left arm and left leg.

Get today's headlines by email

The injured soldier was identified as Private Dechsak Treekham. He was reported to be in a serious condition following the explosion. Military personnel at the base provided emergency first aid before transferring him to Kab Cheing Hospital for close medical supervision.

The incident took place within the grounds of the Erawan operations base in Surin, a province bordering Cambodia where landmine risks have previously been reported. The soldier was attached to the 233rd Infantry Company under the 23rd Infantry Battalion, 3rd Regiment at the time of the incident. The device involved was described as an anti-personnel landmine.

Initial reports confirmed that the explosion caused traumatic amputation of his right leg. He also sustained shrapnel injuries to his left arm and left leg. Fellow personnel acted quickly to stabilise him at the scene before arranging urgent transport to hospital.

Authorities said his condition remains under close monitoring at Kab Cheing Hospital. Medical teams are working to provide ongoing treatment and supervision. Officials have begun investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. It remains unclear how the landmine came to be present within the base perimeter. Further information is expected once inquiries have progressed.

Khoasod reported the case has drawn attention to safety measures within operational bases in border provinces. Military authorities are expected to review the incident as part of standard procedure. Updates will be provided as more details become available.

Key Takeaways

• A Thai private lost his right leg in a landmine blast at Erawan operations base in Surin on 27 February 2026.

• Private Dechsak Treekham remains in a serious condition at Kab Cheing Hospital with additional shrapnel injuries.

• Authorities are investigating how an anti-personnel landmine was present inside the military base.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 27 Feb 2026

View full article

Hope he full recovers. I have a question:

How did those sneaky Cambodians plant a mine in a Thai military base? Maybe they are more ept than we thought....

UPDATE

Army Region 2: Surin Landmine Not Newly Planted

Picture courtesy of Naewna

Thailand’s Army Region 2 has clarified that the landmine which critically injured a soldier in Surin province on Friday morning was not newly planted. The blast occurred at 06:44 on 27 February 2026 in the Chong Raye area of Kab Cheing district, resulting in the loss of the soldier’s right leg.

According to Army Region 2, one serviceman was seriously injured while operating in an area under Thai control. The explosion caused traumatic amputation of his right leg. He was urgently transported to the nearest hospital and remains under close medical supervision.

The incident took place in the Chong Raye area, Kab Cheing district, Surin province. Earlier reports identified the location as the Erawan operations base and named the injured soldier as Private Dechsak Treekham from the 233rd Infantry Company, 23rd Infantry Battalion, 3rd Regiment.

In its statement issued at 09:24 on 27 February 2026, Army Region 2 said an initial inspection of the scene found the device was a landmine buried deep in the ground and covered by layers of leaves. Officials stated this made it difficult to detect during previous checks. The army stressed that the explosive was not newly laid.

Authorities said the soldier was injured while carrying out duties in territory controlled by Thai forces. Emergency assistance was provided immediately after the blast before he was transferred for hospital treatment. His condition is being closely monitored by medical staff.

Naewna reported that the clarification comes amid concerns about landmine risks in border areas of Surin province. Army Region 2 said further details would follow as assessments continue. An investigation into the precise circumstances of the explosion remains ongoing.

Key Takeaways

• Army Region 2 confirmed the Surin landmine was not newly planted but buried deep and covered by leaves.

• The blast at 06:44 on 27 February 2026 in Chong Raye caused a soldier to lose his right leg.

• The injured serviceman was taken to the nearest hospital and remains under close medical supervision.

Adapted by ASEAN Now Naewna 27 Feb 2026

As the news item itself notes, “... It remains unclear how the landmine came to be present within the base perimeter...”, and that is perhaps the most alarming aspect.

You would expect bases to be secure zones, so the presence of a live mine inside the perimeter raises serious questions about safety protocols, clearance operations, and whether old ordnance from past conflicts in border regions is still lurking undetected.

It's s important to note that during the 1970s–1990s, Thailand mined parts of its frontier with Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar to prevent infiltration by insurgents and armed groups. Many of these mines were laid by the Royal Thai Army itself, not just foreign forces.

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Just earlier this month, another soldier in Sisaket Province lost part of his leg after stepping on what was believed to be an old mine near the Thai–Cambodian border.

These repeated incidents highlight the ongoing danger posed by leftover landmines in Thailand’s border provinces, despite years of clearance efforts.

Thailand has been a signatory to the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines since 1999, and clearance operations have reduced contaminated areas significantly. Yet, as these tragic events show, the legacy of past conflicts continues to endanger soldiers and civilians alike.

It also underscores the need for renewed mine clearance, stricter perimeter checks, and perhaps even a review of how bases in historically mined areas are secured.

So an accident caused by own material.... Sad but nothing to do with Cambodia. Hope he will make it

23 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

It remains unclear how the landmine came to be present within the base perimeter.

Yeah, that will be something to think about.

I wonder if it was one of their own minds that they planted years ago and just forgot about it they definitely need to start sweeping for mine TIT

Not all that surprising, given the widespread disregard for process and safety in Thailand.

Driving statistics, the absence of behavioral escalation paths for citizens (the police do reasonably well in this area), loose adherence to laws protecting public safety—such as crosswalks—weak security in food supply chains, and minimal consequences for failures in public works projects, particularly regarding quality and safety, all paint a troubling picture.

One would expect the armed forces to maintain rigid processes around ordinance, with zero tolerance for error. While I can accept that mistakes in fire and ordinance may occur in kinetic battles, I cannot accept anything less than zero tolerance for this type of accident.

Who was in charge? Who is the investigative authority? Who conducts the failure mode analysis? Who is held accountable? What revised processes, execution standards, and audits will ensure such “mistakes” never occur again?

My best wishes to the unfortunate soldier affected by this failure. A Sergeant Major and their superiors should face review, possible demotion and punishment for such lax standards. The outcome of the investigation must be transparent, and the results communicated to restore credibility and raise awareness.

In such a dangerous environment, process must rule, not cultural nods to acceptance and forgiveness.

2 minutes ago, RayOday said:

Not all that surprising, given the widespread disregard for process and safety in Thailand.

Driving statistics, the absence of behavioral escalation paths for citizens (the police do reasonably well in this area), loose adherence to laws protecting public safety—such as crosswalks—weak security in food supply chains, and minimal consequences for failures in public works projects, particularly regarding quality and safety, all paint a troubling picture.

One would expect the armed forces to maintain rigid processes around ordinance, with zero tolerance for error. While I can accept that mistakes in fire and ordinance may occur in kinetic battles, I cannot accept anything less than zero tolerance for this type of accident.

Who was in charge? Who is the investigative authority? Who conducts the failure mode analysis? Who is held accountable? What revised processes, execution standards, and audits will ensure such “mistakes” never occur again?

My best wishes to the unfortunate soldier affected by this failure. A Sergeant Major and their superiors should face review, possible demotion and punishment for such lax standards. The outcome of the investigation must be transparent, and the results communicated to restore credibility and raise awareness.

In such a dangerous environment, process must rule, not cultural nods to acceptance and forgiveness.

I agree with your comments, but doubt that any of what you suggest will be done. Might be wrong, I know nothing of how the army conducts its operations other than when they throw a bunch of illegal immigrants into the back of a lorry like logs and most die.

From what I know of how the rest of Thailand operates, a shrug of the shoulders is more likely.

Very sad for the soldier, I hope he recovers as best as possible.

On 2/27/2026 at 5:41 AM, ikke1959 said:

So an accident caused by own material.... Sad but nothing to do with Cambodia. Hope he will make it

I agree- I hope the politicians do not try to twist the narrative to justify more destruction on what is already a very fragile border

Thoughts of course to the young man whose life has been irrevocably changed and I hope he survives and recovers

On 2/27/2026 at 9:51 AM, Emdog said:

Hope he full recovers. I have a question:

How did those sneaky Cambodians plant a mine in a Thai military base? Maybe they are more ept than we thought....

Full recovers? He lost his leg already.

Regardless of who laid the mine and when it was laid, doesn't the use of landmines seem like one of the most inhumane military tactics ever conceived? It has to rank right up there with the use of chemical or nuclear weapons in terms of a total disregard for humanity.