A 1,000-pound unexploded bomb from World War II disrupted life for thousands in a bustling Hong Kong neighborhood.

According to Fox News, approximately 6,000 residents from 1,900 households were forced to evacuate overnight while bomb disposal experts worked to defuse the massive explosive device. The U.S.-made bomb, measuring nearly 5 feet long and containing 500 pounds of TNT, was discovered at a construction site in Quarry Bay on Hong Kong's west side.

Police official Andy Chan Tin-Chu confirmed the object as a bomb dating back to World War II and cited "exceptionally high risks associated with its disposal" as the reason for the large-scale evacuation. The bomb disposal operation was particularly challenging as experts had to work through difficult weather conditions under a typhoon.

Delicate Ten-Hour Operation Under Typhoon Conditions

The Hong Kong Police bomb disposal team worked tirelessly from approximately 2 a.m. until nearly noon on Saturday to neutralize the threat. Experts from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau determined the bomb was still in good condition despite being buried for eight decades, making the operation particularly dangerous.

Police reported that the team "braved the elements under the typhoon" during the painstaking process of dismantling the explosive device. The operation concluded successfully at 11:48 a.m. with no injuries reported, allowing residents to return to their homes after the overnight displacement.

The authorities implemented the emergency evacuation plan immediately upon discovery of the bomb by construction workers at a site on Pan Hoi Street. Public safety was cited as the primary concern given the bomb's size and potential destructive power.

Recurring Problem From Hong Kong's Wartime Past

This incident marks the latest in a series of World War II-era explosives discovered in Hong Kong in recent years. The territory has a history of uncovering dangerous wartime remnants, particularly during construction and excavation projects.

In 2018, experts defused another 1,000-pound World War II bomb found at a construction site in Hong Kong's business district. That incident was notable as it was the third bomb discovered in the city since January of that year alone.

Hong Kong's wartime history explains the presence of these dangerous relics. The territory was occupied by Japanese forces during World War II and was subjected to air raids by U.S. forces, which explains the American origin of the recently discovered bomb.

Sophisticated Disposal Techniques For Deadly Relics

The bomb disposal operation required specialized expertise and extreme caution due to the age and condition of the explosive. Despite being buried for approximately 80 years, many World War II bombs remain highly volatile and dangerous.

The Hong Kong Police Force shared updates throughout the operation on social media, emphasizing the "high risks involved" in handling the bomb. Images released by authorities showed the shell of the bomb after the successful disposal operation.

Such operations typically involve carefully examining the bomb to determine its fuse type, stabilizing the device, and then either defusing it in place or conducting a controlled detonation. The fact that this bomb was found in a densely populated urban area made a controlled detonation impractical, necessitating the more delicate defusing approach.

Wartime Legacy Continues To Impact Modern Cities

The discovery highlights how the legacy of World War II continues to affect urban centers across Asia and Europe decades after the conflict ended. Unexploded ordnance remains a serious safety concern in many regions that experienced heavy bombing during the war.

Cities like Hong Kong, which saw significant conflict, continue to uncover these dangerous remnants during construction and development projects. Modern urban expansion often disturbs previously undeveloped areas where unexploded bombs may have lain dormant for decades.

The successful handling of this incident demonstrates the expertise of Hong Kong's bomb disposal units, which have developed specialized protocols for dealing with these increasingly common discoveries. Their work ensures public safety while allowing urban development to continue despite the lingering physical remnants of war.