6,000 evacuated after World War II bomb found in Hong Kong

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) — Nearly 6,000 people were evacuated in Hong Kong on Friday after an unexploded World War II–era bomb was uncovered at a construction site, local media reported.

Police said the American aerial bomb, weighing about 453 kilograms (1,000 pounds), would be disposed of in an overnight operation due to the high risk of moving it.

“The bomb is believed to be functional and extremely dangerous... We have decided to dispose of the bomb on site. Due to the extremely high risk in removing the device, we have to activate an emergency evacuation plan,” Eastern district commander Andy Chan was quoted as saying by Radio Television Hong Kong.

Residents in 18 nearby residential and commercial buildings were ordered to leave their homes and workplaces by 11 p.m. (1500GMT).

The device, containing about 226 kilograms (500 pounds) of explosives, is similar to another bomb discovered in the city in 2018. Authorities said they aim to neutralize it within 12 hours.

Senior bomb disposal officer Suryanto Chin-chiu said the operation may involve cutting open the casing and burning the explosives inside.

“If we do not properly handle [the bomb] or if we underestimate the risk, its destructive power – as designed during the Second World War – could cause massive casualties and damage to people and buildings,” Suryanto warned.

He stressed that detonation was not an option: “We will not detonate [the bomb], because the nearest residential buildings are within a very short distance. If we detonate it on the spot, the nearby residential buildings will certainly be severely impacted.”