Wartime Bomb Discovered in Bustling Downtown Hong Kong; Bomb Disposal Expected to Finish on Afternoon of the 20th

A suspected wartime bomb was discovered in Hong Kong on the 19th, measuring about 1.5 meters in length and weighing around 1,000 pounds. Authorities have urgently evacuated nearby personnel. Bomb disposal experts began dismantling the bomb at midnight. By the morning of the 20th, the bomb's shell had been sawn open and the explosive inside was being incinerated. The operation is expected to be completed by 2pm.

Police, fire services, and the Home Affairs Department provided updates on the wartime bomb situation on the evening of the 19th. Eastern District Police Commander Chan Tin-chu stated that at noon, a report was received from a construction site on Hoi Mei Street, Quarry Bay, where a suspicious large object was unearthed about 10 meters deep during foundation work by construction workers. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau arrived at the scene and confirmed it was an American aerial bomb left over from World War II, about 1.5 meters long and weighing roughly 1,000 pounds. The bomb is believed to still be intact and presents an extremely high potential danger.

For safety reasons, police immediately arranged for the evacuation of more than 300 people present and temporarily closed nearby MTR entrances. That evening, all residents of 18 nearby buildings were evacuated, involving about 6,000 people, who were assisted in relocating to various community centers.