20 June, 2026
An elderly man was killed after a grenade exploded while he was collecting trash in Muse, a town on the China–Myanmar border in northern Shan State, according to local residents.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on June 16 in Swam Saw Ward, where a 70-year-old man was picking up garbage near his home.
Reports say the man found an object wrapped in a black package near a trash pile and picked it up, not realizing it was a hand grenade, which then exploded instantly.
A local daily wage worker said the victim had been cleaning the area regularly and likely threw the object away as part of his routine, causing the explosion.
The deceased was identified as an ethnic Chinese man who had reportedly been suffering from mental health issues for several years.
Following the military’s re-control of Muse, the increased presence of militia groups has raised concerns among residents, who believe the grenade may have been left behind by armed groups, as ongoing violence and crime continue to create fear in the area.
