Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Yen Bai, (VNA) – Military sapper in the northernmountainous province of Yen Bai detonated a 150kg bomb, said to be left over bythe French during the war in the first half of the 20th century, onMay 30, ensuring safety for local residents.
The 1m long bomb was found on May 27 when the family ofNguyen Thi Thuyen in A Thuong village, Nghia Phuc commune, Nghia Lo town, was levellingthe land plot behind their house.
As the site is close to a residential area, the localmilitary command had to move the bomb to a far-flung area for detonation.
Post-war bombs and mines have remained a daily threat in Vietnam.
It is estimated that more than6.1 million ha of land or 18.71 percent of Vietnam’s total area arecontaminated with about 800,000 tonnes of bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances(UXO) left by wars, which are scattered over all 63 cities and provinces in thecountry, with the central region the hardest hit.
Between 1975 and now, bombs andmines killed 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
