7 children dead, 10 injured in E. Afghan explosion

An injured child receives medical treatment at a hospital in Mehtarlam, capital of Afghanistan's eastern province of Laghman, April 15, 2019. About seven children were killed and 10 others wounded after a mortar shell exploded on outskirts of Mehtarlam, capital of Afghanistan's eastern province of Laghman on Sunday, provincial government spokesman Assadullah Dawlatzai said. (Xinhua/Saifurahman Safi)

MEHTARLAM, Afghanistan, April 14 (Xinhua) -- About seven children were killed and 10 others wounded after a mortar shell exploded on outskirts of Mehtarlam, capital of Afghanistan's eastern province of Laghman on Sunday, provincial government spokesman Assadullah Dawlatzai said.

"The explosive remnants of war (ERW) explosion occurred when the kids were playing in Basram area roughly at 5:00 p.m. local time. The injured children were shifted to a hospital in the city and the wounded remained in stable condition," Dawlatzai said.

Provincial governor Asif Nang instructed related departments to provide best medical service for the wounded, he said, noting "an investigation has been undertaken into the incident."

Afghan officials use the term ERW to refer to unexploded ordnance (UXO) and abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO).

The next-of-kin of the victims were notified after the incident.