Hong Kong evacuates 6,000 people after finding a World War II bomb

Hong Kong.- Hong Kong authorities ordered the evacuation of about 6,000 people in the Quarry Bay district this Saturday after a World War II projectile of about 227 kilos of explosives was discovered, considered of “high risk” by dismantling specialists. The artifact, 1.5 meters long, was found about 10 meters underground during construction work and is believed to have been dropped by a US aircraft during the conflict. The police immediately activated an emergency device to evacuate the residents of 18 nearby buildings and move them to safe areas. The deactivation operation began at 2:00 AM this Saturday, with the intention of fragmenting the bomb and causing a controlled explosion before 11:00 PM local time. During that time, several adjacent streets remain closed and security and emergency teams are deployed.

You can also read: Hong Kong rejects proposal that would have given limited recognition to homosexual unions | De Último Minuto

“We are prepared with intervention vehicles, medical units, and robotic technology to support the maneuver,” explained Lo Shui-sang, acting head of the eastern sector, who noted that mobile care centers for potential casualties were also set up. In the operation, 35 community groups are collaborating, with logistical support from the Wan Chai district, as confirmed by Henry Lai, a representative of the Home Affairs Department, who added that temporary transportation and accommodation were made available for the evacuees. This type of finding is not new in Hong Kong. In 2018, in the same district of Wan Chai, three similar projectiles were discovered, one of them with the same weight of 227 kilos, which forced the evacuation of more than 1,200 people and required 20 hours of specialized work. Although these events are sporadic, experts warn that the rapid urban development in the city could continue to bring to light war relics, recalling the intense Allied bombings suffered by the former British colony between 1942 and 1945.