The explosion occurred as the boys, aged between 13 and 16, were grazing animals outside their village in Sirnak province, close to the border with Iraq, the NTV and CNN Turk news channels said.

One of them was killed on the spot while the others were hospitalized with serious injuries.

It was not clear who had planted the mine.

The Turkish army has in the past laid mines to combat rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Worlers' Party (PKK) behind a 25-year armed campaign for self-rule in the Kurdish-populated region -- a practice it has abandoned in the last decade.

The rebels also employ mines in their attacks against military forces.