Government's combined efforts enable successful disposal of wartime bomb
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Police received a report at noon yesterday that a suspected bomb was discovered at a construction site at 16-94 Pan Hoi Street, North Point. Police officers were deployed to the scene to carry out the investigation and handling arrangements. Officers of the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau (EODB) confirmed that the bomb was a cylindrical American aerial bomb from World War II, approximately 150 centimetres in length, weighing about 1 000 pounds and containing 500 pounds of high explosives, posing a significant danger.
The Security Bureau swiftly mobilised nearly 500 personnel from the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Civil Aid Service (CAS) and the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) to participate in the emergency response operation. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre was immediately activated to fully co-ordinate and support the cross-departmental emergency work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
In preparation for the disposal operation, the Police consulted relevant government departments, co-ordinated with stakeholders and conducted a comprehensive impact assessment. All precautionary measures were implemented, including the evacuation of occupants from 18 residential or commercial buildings nearby to ensure public safety and minimise the impacts on the public. Officers of the EODB commenced the bomb disposal operation last night and successfully completed it at 11.48am today. The cordon was lifted immediately after that.
The FSD deployed a total of 58 fire and ambulance vehicles, and mobilised 224 fire and ambulance personnel during the incident. After conducting a risk assessment, the department mobilised one jet and one breathing apparatus, and dispatched firefighting robots to strategic locations. To support the EODB's operations and prevent any impact on nearby buildings, the FSD also deployed the Disaster Response and Rescue Team to the scene to standby. The FSD also co-ordinated with the Police to carry out a large-scale evacuation, ultimately evacuating 2 887 residents in total.
In addition, the FSD collaborated with the AMS and the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance to assist residents with special needs, transporting five residents who were feeling unwell to the hospital, and six other individuals to other suitable accommodations. After the disposal operation was completed, the FSD also co-ordinated with relevant departments, including the CAS, Hong Kong St. John Ambulance, the Home Affairs Department (HAD), and the Social Welfare Department, dispatching newly introduced mass conveyance ambulance to take eight people in need and with limited mobility back home.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the HAD rendered full support to the Police in carrying out the evacuation operation. Through established district networks, the HYAB and HAD promptly notified the owners' corporations and property management companies of the affected buildings to ensure timely communications with residents yesterday. All 35 Care Teams of the Eastern District were mobilised, while Care Teams of the Wan Chai District also provided cross-district support. District Council members, together with Care Team members and volunteers, also assisted residents in need at the affected buildings and temporary shelters.
In response to the evacuation, the HAD set up a total of 19 temporary shelters to accommodate residents in need. Around 450 residents stayed in these shelters last night, where the District Offices staff, Care Team members and volunteers provided overnight support. Bedding and meals were also provided in the shelters, including breakfast and lunch. For residents' convenience, coaches were arranged by the District Office last night to transport those in need to the temporary shelters, and similar arrangements were made today to enable residents to return to their homes. Despite heavy rain, Care Team members provided attentive assistance at pick-up and drop-off points, particularly for elderly persons with mobility difficulties. In addition, support desks were set up at the lobbies of affected buildings to promptly respond to and follow up on residents' enquiries. Separate areas were specially arranged at the shelters for affected residents to rest with their pets.
In this operation, the CAS mobilised over 100 members to actively assist in the evacuation, ensuring the safety of the residents. The CAS Command Centre also operated at full capacity to provide command and support. Moreover, CAS members assisted to set up temporary shelters and provide support to those in need. After the disposal of the bomb, CAS members continued to assist the affected residents in returning to their homes in a safe and orderly manner.
During the operation, the AMS deployed five ambulances and 47 members to standby at the scene throughout the evacuation. Following the completion of the bomb disposal and subsequent unsealing of the site, AMS members assisted to transport six citizens with mobility difficulties back to their residences.
In addition, the Emergency Transport Coordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) operated round the clock to oversee the orderly implementation of various special traffic and transport arrangements. In view of the full closure of both directions of a section of King's Road in Quarry Bay earlier, the TD had been steering and co-ordinating public transport operators overnight for maintaining preparedness and responding in a prudent manner to adjusting affected services, with a view to minimising the impact to the daily commute of passengers. Following the reopening of affected roads in phases, the TD liaised with operators of franchised buses and the tramways for swift follow up to ensure safe operation of their services. The affected services gradually resumed their normal routings after noon, and the MTR also reopened entrances/exits of Quarry Bay Station closed earlier. The TD disseminated the latest traffic news and appealed overnight through its website, radio and TV broadcasts, the HKeMobility mobile application, etc to provide convenience for the public to plan their journeys.
The Government spokesman said that the swift, safe and smooth resolution of the bomb disposal situation hinged on the close co-operation of various government departments and their dedication to duty, and the active co-operation and support of Care Teams, community service organisations, as well as the affected citizens. The Government thanks the public and the participating organisations and institutions for their support and collaboration, which enabled the crisis to be defused successfully.
Ends/Saturday, September 20, 2025
Issued at HKT 23:07
Issued at HKT 23:07
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