One illegal immigrant was killed and another four were injured late on Wednesday after walking into a minefield at the Evros border while trying to enter Greece illegally from Turkey, the army said yesterday.

The incident raised to 64 the number of illegal immigrants who have died in Evros minefields since 1997, when the international Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel mines was signed. Greece ratified the treaty in 2002.

The victim was only identified as a Palestinian man, who entered the minefield along with another four Palestinians and two Moroccans. According to an army statement, the minefield, in the area of Kastanies near Didymoteicho, was surrounded by a double fence hung with phosphorescent warning signs in Greek and English.

The wounded men were hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries in Didymoteicho.