A suspected wartime bomb was discovered on November 15, 2025, at a construction site near the Hong Kong International Airport.
Construction workers found the suspicious object measuring approximately 30 cm by 7 cm (11.8 by 2.8 inches) and promptly alerted the police. The Asian city’s police department dispatched officers from the explosive ordnance disposal bureau to the scene shortly after the discovery.
The detonation occurred around 4 pm, approximately four hours after the initial discovery. The area was reopened a few moments later with no reported injuries or damage to nearby airport operations.
Police and airport staff said airport operations were not affected; the site was temporarily closed under police instructions while bomb-disposal experts handled the device.
Unexploded ordnance from World War II is occasionally found in Hong Kong due to its strategic importance in the war and heavy bombing raids on the city.
What safety measures are taken when such bombs are found?
Authorities evacuate nearby residents and workers, cordon off the area, and deploy bomb disposal units to assess and detonate or defuse the device as needed.
Why are these devices still fragile?
Over decades, explosives in these bombs can deteriorate making the devices highly sensitive and dangerous to move or handle.
Construction workers found the suspicious object measuring approximately 30 cm by 7 cm (11.8 by 2.8 inches) and promptly alerted the police. The Asian city’s police department dispatched officers from the explosive ordnance disposal bureau to the scene shortly after the discovery.
Evacuation and safety measures
Police evacuated around 900 people in the surrounding area as a precautionary measure while experts assessed and dealt with the device. Due to the bomb’s poor and unstable condition, including the explosives inside, officers determined it unsafe to move and decided to conduct a controlled detonation on site.The detonation occurred around 4 pm, approximately four hours after the initial discovery. The area was reopened a few moments later with no reported injuries or damage to nearby airport operations.
Historical context
The bomb is believed to be a British-made three-inch mortar round dating back to World War II. Hong Kong, having been occupied by Japanese forces during World War II and targeted by Allied forces, has seen various discoveries of unexploded ordnance over the years. Such devices are often remnants from intense air raids and military actions in the region during the 1940s.Police and airport staff said airport operations were not affected; the site was temporarily closed under police instructions while bomb-disposal experts handled the device.
FAQs
How common is finding wartime bombs in Hong Kong?Unexploded ordnance from World War II is occasionally found in Hong Kong due to its strategic importance in the war and heavy bombing raids on the city.
What safety measures are taken when such bombs are found?
Authorities evacuate nearby residents and workers, cordon off the area, and deploy bomb disposal units to assess and detonate or defuse the device as needed.
Why are these devices still fragile?
Over decades, explosives in these bombs can deteriorate making the devices highly sensitive and dangerous to move or handle.
