Lam Dong tackles 250kg wartime bomb

The bomb is being tackled at scene (Photo: VNA)

Lam Dong (VNA) – The Military High Command in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong’s Da Huoai district is working with competent agencies to transport a wartime bomb recently unearthed by residents for safe detonation.

The explosive device was detected on January 5 when an excavator was used at its location.

Left over by the US during the war, the bomb, whose detonator remains intact, is over 1.6m long, has a diameter of 30cm, and weights more than 250kg.

In addition to the disposal of the bomb, the competent forces will conduct a search of the surrounding area, looking for explosives still underground to ensure the safety of people.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnam is one of countries most contaminated with unexploded ordnances (UXOs).

It is estimated that about 800,000 tonnes of UXOs were left across the country after the war ended in 1975, mostly in the central region. Some 6.13 million hectares of land are polluted with or suspected of being polluted with UXOs, accounting for 18.82 percent of the country’s total area.

Since 1975, UXO incidents have killed more than 40,000 people and injured 60,000 others, most of whom were breadwinners of their families or children./.

VNA