Three soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion in northern Thailand.

The troops were patrolling the border with Myanmar when squad leader Sergeant Major First Class Naret Pimchan stepped on the hidden explosive in Chiang Mai province, on February 11.

He and two others identified as Sergeant Major Aphisit Sarachan and Sergeant Major Surasak Somphong were wounded in the blast.

Naret was taken to the Nakornping Hospital, where he will undergo surgery to remove the shrapnel embedded in his legs. The two other soldiers were recovering from their injuries at the Fort Kawila Hospital.

Lieutenant General Kittipong Jaemsuwan, commander of the Third Army Area, visited Naret to give a gift basket and financial assistance on February 12.

He said: 'I have Major General Kidakorn Chantra, commander of the Pha Muang border patrol, to visit Aphisit and Surasak to deliver the same items to boost their morale.'

Insurgents and government forces planted millions of landmines along Thailand's borders in the 1970s to 1990s.

De-mining work is ongoing, with Thai authorities vowing to remove all landmines by 2023 under the 1997 Ottawa Treaty.