Afghanistan mine kills 10 girls

KABUL. December 17. KAZINFORM At least 10 young girls have been killed and two others injured in a landmine explosion in eastern Afghanistan, officials say.

A spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province said the girls were collecting firewood when one of them hit the mine with an axe.

According to BBC, most of those killed were aged between nine and 11, officials said.

Unexploded mines dating from decades of conflict in Afghanistan are still commonly found in rural areas.

The incident reportedly took place near Dawlatzai village, in the Chaperhar district of Nangarhar.

The two injured girls were in critical condition in hospital, one official said.