The Vietnam War ended 40 years ago, but left a deadly legacy, especially in Laos.
Not all of those bombs did what they were supposed to do.
An estimated 30 percent of ordnance failed to explode, remaining live in the ground years after the war.
They continue to detonate at unexpected places and at unexpected times, such as when children are playing.
Boats made frombomb casingsfuel tanks seen in a village in Laos.
A high quality bomb casing weighing up to 2,000 pounds can fetch more than $100.
Gathering bomb scraps is a deadly occupation, but the people were forced into the trade by poverty.
It prolongs poverty because people can’t do what they need to do.
But progress is slow and their budget limited.
Meanwhile, people continue to get killed and injured by accidental detonation of live ordnance.
As of 2012, at least 29,000 people have died from such accidents.
Children pose near unexploded bombs recovered from around the village.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
A house in village uses a bomb casing as a garden decoration.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
Bomb casing used as a flower pot.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
Bomb casings used to prop up a house.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
Bomb casings as water container.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
Metal recovered from bomb casing shaped into cow bells.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
Bomb casings used to prop up houses.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
Photo credit: Mark Watson
A bomb casing turned into a boat.
Photo credit: Mark Watson
Sources:Inhabitat/MAG International/NPR
