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Key Points

Hong Kong police successfully defused a massive unexploded WWII bomb discovered at a construction site. The operation required evacuating approximately 6000 residents from surrounding buildings overnight. Meanwhile, in Greece, a WWII shell explosion severely injured two men at an earthmoving machinery yard. Both incidents highlight the ongoing danger posed by unexploded wartime ordnance decades after conflicts have ended.

Key Points: Hong Kong Police Defuse Unexploded WWII Bomb Evacuating 6000

  • Police evacuated 6000 people from surrounding buildings before the operation
  • The 1000-pound aerial bomb contained 500 pounds of TNT explosives
  • Bomb disposal officers cut a hole in the shell to burn explosives safely
  • A separate WWII shell explosion in Greece left two men critically injured
2 min read

Unexploded WWII bomb defused in Hong Kong

Hong Kong police successfully defused a 1000-pound WWII bomb after evacuating 6000 residents. Meanwhile, a WWII shell explosion in Greece left two men severely injured.

"Despite a rain delay, the Police managed to cut a hole in the shell and burn the 500 pounds of TNT explosives inside - Suryanto Chin-chiu"

Hong Kong, Sep 20

The Hong Kong Police Force on Saturday morning defused the unexploded World War II bomb discovered at a construction site in the Eastern District, according to a police briefing.

The Police said that the site and its surroundings are now safe enough for evacuated residents to return, and all blocked roads had been reopened.

Despite a rain delay, the Police managed to cut a hole in the shell and burn the 500 pounds of TNT explosives inside, a high-stakes operation given the power of the bomb, said Suryanto Chin-chiu, senior bomb disposal officer of the Police's explosive ordnance disposal bureau.

To dispose of the aerial bomb, which is 1.5 metre long and weighs about 1,000 pounds, the Police had evacuated around 6,000 people in surrounding buildings by 11 pm on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. Some of them spent the night at community centers with assistance from care teams and District Council members.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that an explosion in the town of Tsotyli, northern Greece, which left two men injured on Friday, was caused by a World War II shell, Greek state broadcaster ERT reported.

The blast occurred around 11:30 am local time at a yard for earthmoving machinery, where a 54-year-old man sustained multiple traumatic injuries and a 45-year-old man suffered fractures.

The 54-year-old victim, who was in critical condition with severe burns and partial amputations to his knee and elbow, was transferred to Hippocrates Hospital in Thessaloniki. The second man underwent orthopedic surgery at Mamatseio Hospital in Kozani and will remain there for observation.

Army bomb disposal experts examined the site following the explosion and confirmed the presence of ammunition fragments, indicating the device was a wartime shell, ERT said.

Authorities have cordoned off the area while investigations continue.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This shows how war remnants continue to threaten lives decades later. The Greece incident is heartbreaking - those poor men just going about their work. We need better detection systems worldwide.
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Arjun K
Hong Kong handled this professionally with proper evacuation of 6000 people. In India, we also have similar challenges with old munitions. Our forces could learn from their protocol.
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Sarah B
The contrast between Hong Kong's successful disposal and Greece's tragic accident shows why proper bomb disposal expertise is crucial. Those Greek workers didn't stand a chance 😢
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Vikram M
️ 1.5 meter long bomb! Can't imagine the tension during disposal. Hong Kong police deserve medals for this. Meanwhile in Greece - terrible reminder that war's dangers linger long after conflicts end.
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Michael C
While Hong Kong did excellent work, I wonder if the evacuation could have been handled with less disruption. 6000 people displaced overnight is massive. Perhaps earlier detection methods could help.
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Ananya R
This makes me think about all the unexploded ordnance still lying around from various conflicts. Countries need to collaborate on clearing these deadly remnants. Peace shouldn't come with hidden dangers.

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