Soldiers remove the bomb weighing 225kg found in Hai Ha district, Quang Ninh province (Photo: VNA) Quang Ninh (VNA) – The Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Bombs, Mines, Explosives Disposal Company 319 discovered and relocated a bomb weighing 225kg in Hai Ha district, the northern province of Quang Ninh, on May 14.
The bomb was discovered while the company cleared defused unexploded ordnance in preparation for the construction of Van Don – Mong Cai highway in Hai Dong village, Quang Thanh commune, Hai Ha district. Coded MK82, it is 0.274m in diametre and 1.54m in length with 93kg of explosives inside.
In the near future, the company will work with the district’s offices and agencies to speed up bombs, mines, explosives disarmament at Van Dong – Mong Cai highway, striving to transfer clean site to investor as directed by the provincial authorities.
Post-war bombs and mines have remained a daily threat in Vietnam.
It is estimated that more than 6.1 million ha of land or 18.71 percent of Vietnam’s total area are contaminated with about 800,000 tonnes of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) left by wars, which are scattered over all 63 cities and provinces in the country, with the central region the hardest hit.
Between 1975 and now, bombs and mines killed more than 40,000 people and injured 60,000 others.
Each year, Vietnam decontaminates from 40,000-50,000 ha of land. However, it will take more than a century to clear all bombs and mines in the country, with an estimated cost of over 10 billion USD, excluding spending on resettlement and social welfare work in the danger zones.-VNA
VNA
