Taiwan: Decades-old unexploded bombs discovered

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) – Taiwan has discovered decades-old unexploded bombs in its waters, local media reported on Wednesday.

Island nation’s military divers found at least 13 unexploded bombs on Tuesday off the coast of New Taipei City, according to daily Taiwan News.

The discovery was made after a local diving instructor found some objects and alerted local authorities. The area been declared "red-zone" to avoid any accident.

Located in northern Taiwan, New Taipei City is the most populous city of the island state which maintained its independence since 1949. China, however, considers Taiwan, which has nearly 24 million population, its “breakaway” province.

The unexploded bombs, believed to be from World War II era, were located around a popular diving spot down in waters at a depth of around 10-13 meters (32-42 feet).

The report added that photos of the spot reveal bombs and a nearby shipwreck, “all of which are covered with rust and algae”.

Military experts are exploring methods to dispose of the unexploded bombs.

Elderly locals from the area recounted that an explosive-laden vessel sank off the coast during the Japanese occupation.

Interestingly, the discovery of unexploded bombs and the ship wreckage coincided with launch of Taiwan’s “largest marine research vessel” on Tuesday.

In a tweet, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said: "[New Ocean Researcher 1] was a testament to our domestic shipbuilding program and shows our dedication to contributing to disaster relief and ocean sustainability thru advanced marine research that benefits international society”.