Hong Kong authorities are preparing to evacuate approximately 6,000 residents on Friday evening after the finding of a large unexploded bomb dating back to world War II at a construction site in Quarry Bay. The evacuation is a precautionary measure ahead of planned demolition work scheduled to begin early Saturday morning.

Bomb Details and Evacuation Plan

According to a statement released by the Hong Kong Police Force, the bomb measures approximately 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet) in length and weighs around 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds). Police officials believe the ordnance remains “fully functional,” necessitating the large-scale evacuation.

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Due to the extremely high risks involved in dismantling and disposing of the bomb, we must activate the emergency evacuation plan.

The evacuation will encompass residents of 18 buildings in the Quarry Bay area. Hong Kong Police District Commander Andy Chan confirmed the details of the plan in a press briefing.

Historical Context and Previous Incidents

Hong Kong experienced intense fighting during World War II as a key target in the expansion of the Japanese empire across Asia. As a result, unexploded ordnance is occasionally discovered by construction workers and hikers, even decades after the war’s conclusion.

A similar incident occurred in May 2018,when a WWII-era bomb was discovered in the Wan Chai district,leading to the evacuation of 1,200 residents. Dawn News reported that the disposal process for that bomb took approximately 20 hours. Police have indicated that the bomb discovered on Friday is of the same type as the one found in 2018.

Demolition and Disposal

Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the method of disposal,but have confirmed that demolition work will commence Saturday morning. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.