How many types of landmines are there?

There are two main categories of landmines: anti-personnel and anti-vehicle.

Anti-personnel landmines are designed to explode when as little as two kilograms of pressure is applied - or when a person steps on them or disturbs them.

Anti-vehicle landmines are designed to explode when at least 200 kilograms of pressure is applied - or when a car, jeep, truck or tank drives over them.

Within each of these categories, there are many subcategories. For example, a “fragmentation mine” is a type of anti-personnel mine that sprays metal fragments through the air when it explodes. A “blast” mine is another anti-personnel mine that kills or injures a person with the sheer force of the explosion.