A 1,000-pound Hong Kong WWII bomb discovered at a Quarry Bay construction site was defused Saturday, prompting the overnight evacuation of 6,000 residents as experts worked through a typhoon.
Discovery Prompts Hong Kong Bomb Evacuation
Workers first discovered the nearly 5-foot-long object overnight on Friday at a construction site at No. 16-94 of Pan Hoi Street. The Hong Kong Police Force stated it devised an emergency evacuation plan upon discovery to ensure public safety.
Police official Andy Chan Tin-Chu confirmed the object was a WWII-era bomb. He said that because of “the exceptionally high risks associated with its disposal,” approximately 1,900 households involving 6,000 individuals were “urged to evacuate swiftly.“
Experts Defuse the Hong Kong WWII Bomb
The device was a US-made bomb Hong Kong authorities believe still contained 500 pounds of TNT. The Hong Kong Police explosive ordnance disposal team began working on the bomb around 2 a.m.
Saturday.
The disposal team worked for hours, “braving the elements under the typhoon” to dismantle the device, according to a police statement. The operation concluded successfully when the threat was neutralized by 11:48 a.m., with no injuries reported.
A Remnant of Wartime History
The U.S.-made bomb was likely dropped by American service members during World War II when Japan occupied the city. Hong Kong was a frequent target of Allied air raids during that period.
This is not the first 1000-pound bomb found at a Quarry Bay construction site or elsewhere in the city. In 2018, experts defused a similar 1,000-pound WWII bomb at a construction site in the city’s business district.
