Wartime artillery shells safely detonated in Hoa Binh

The military command of the northern province of Hoa Binh safely removes 18 artillery shells left from the war on January 17 (Photo: VNA)

Hoa Binh (VNA) - The military command of the northern province of Hoa Binh has safely removed and detonated 18 artillery shells left from the war.

Earlier, on January 15, the Hoa Binh provincial Police discovered multiple artillery shells measuring approximately 40–60 cm near the second pillar of Hoa Binh Bridge in Tan Thinh ward, Hoa Binh city.

Vietnam is among the countries most affected by unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Today, unexploded bombs and mines are hidden underground in almost all provinces and cities, with around 5.6 million hectares of land contaminated, equivalent to 17.71% of the country’s natural land area.

With joint efforts of the Vietnamese government and people, and the support of the international community, over the past 50 years, since the Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam was signed on January 27, 1973, Vietnam has cleared nearly 2.5 million hectares of contaminated land to serve resettlement, ensure safety for people, and build economic works./.

VNA