Soldiers remove the bomb weighing 225kg found in Hai Ha district, Quang Ninh province (Photo: VNA)Quang Ninh (VNA) – The Vietnamese DefenceMinistry’s Bombs, Mines, Explosives Disposal Company 319 discovered andrelocated a bomb weighing 225kg in Hai Ha district, the northern province ofQuang Ninh, on May 14.
The bomb was discovered while the company cleareddefused unexploded ordnance in preparation for the construction of Van Don –Mong Cai highway in Hai Dong village, Quang Thanh commune, Hai Ha district. CodedMK82, it is 0.274m in diametre and 1.54m in length with 93kg of explosivesinside.
In the near future, the company will workwith the district’s offices and agencies to speed up bombs, mines, explosivesdisarmament at Van Dong – Mong Cai highway, striving to transfer clean site toinvestor as directed by the provincial authorities.
Post-war bombs and mines have remained adaily threat in Vietnam.
It is estimated that more than 6.1 millionha of land or 18.71 percent of Vietnam’s total area are contaminated with about800,000 tonnes of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO) left by wars,which are scattered over all 63 cities and provinces in the country, with thecentral region the hardest hit.
Between 1975 and now, bombs and mineskilled more than 40,000 people and injured 60,000 others.
Each year, Vietnam decontaminates from40,000-50,000 ha of land. However, it will take more than a century to clearall bombs and mines in the country, with an estimated cost of over 10 billionUSD, excluding spending on resettlement and social welfare work in the dangerzones.-VNA
VNA
