Yangon: An official says seven people were killed when an old World War II bomb they found in a river exploded in western Myanmar.
A security official said on Thursday that the dead included two children. He asked not be identified because he did not have clearance to speak to the media.
The seven found the bomb floating in a river in Rakhine state on Wednesday and it exploded when they retrieved it from the water.
World War II bombs are still found in Myanmar, but this is the largest number of people killed by an old bomb in recent decades.
Rakhine state saw battles between occupying Japanese forces and British troops during World War II.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, September 01, 2011, 15:13