Landmines Pose a Deadly Threat in Michoacán
In the Tierra Caliente region, the ground hides a deadly danger. A landmine exploded beneath a pickup truck, permanently changing the life of its driver.
“I believe I was directly over the mine because the only thing I remember is starting the truck, and then I heard the explosion. The truck was thrown about 10 meters into the air with me, my coworker, and another man riding in the back. My work crew was following behind us in a Nissan pickup, and they were the ones who came to help. When I got out, my foot was already completely destroyed. I had lost it. I crawled away, but there was so much dirt and dust swirling around that my workers couldn’t see me. They thought I was dead, but they were trying to save my life,” said Leonel Arturo González Vargas, a survivor of the landmine explosion.
The blast cost him his right foot and left metal fragments embedded in his left eye.
Hospitals Without Doctors or Medical Supplies
The explosion was only the beginning of his ordeal. When he arrived at the hospital, he faced another devastating reality: there were no medical personnel or essential supplies available.
“To my surprise, the Regional Hospital in Apatzingán didn’t have stretcher-bearers or an anesthesiologist. We had to hire an anesthesiologist privately. We also had to buy the medication ourselves. On top of that, someone from the Prosecutor’s Office came to question me. Imagine that—I was dying, bleeding heavily, and he wanted to ask me what was going to happen to my truck.”
Because of the lack of government assistance, relatives and friends have organized fundraising events and community fairs in Apatzingán to help pay for his medical treatment and rehabilitation.
“The eye surgery cost 40,000 pesos. Thanks to a community fair, a raffle for a bottle, and the people who supported me, I was able to pay for it.”
Today, the father of a family hopes to purchase a prosthetic leg so he can return to work and provide for his loved ones.
“I want to ask for support to buy my prosthesis. Ideally, I hope the government will help because it’s their responsibility. I lost practically everything because of this. We recently received another estimate, and the prosthesis costs around 100,000 pesos.”
Leonel is also calling on the federal government to stop what he describes as war crimes and to address the humanitarian crisis in Apatzingán.
“I want them to pay attention to us. The economy in Apatzingán has collapsed. The lime harvests in those rural communities are being abandoned. People are starving to death—this isn’t gossip or rumors, it’s real. The war is real.”
Authorities Continue Mine-Clearing Operations
Authorities acknowledge that violence has forced residents from several communities and say that mine-clearing operations in the Tierra Caliente region are ongoing.
“In the southern part of the municipality of Apatzingán, there have been reports of displaced residents from communities such as Loma de Hoyos and Presa del Rosario. Appropriate measures have been coordinated with the Mexican Army.”
“In coordination with the 43rd Military Zone, the Ministry of National Defense, and the State Public Security Secretariat, preventive patrols and military operating bases have been established in the areas identified as the most affected. Mine-clearing operations are also continuing throughout the region,” said Israel Vega, Acting Attorney General of Michoacán.
Investigations on the ground confirmed that the 43rd Military Zone, headquartered in Apatzingán, has a specialized demining machine used to clear hazardous areas. However, military efforts appear to be insufficient. On June 29, another victim—a 67-year-old man—was seriously injured after triggering a landmine and remains hospitalized with severe injuries to both hands.
Source: unotv
