On April 5, 2024, MAG coordinated with the Military Command of Quang Binh province to successfully dispose of a large bomb MK-82 500LB at the embankment of the Nhat Le River.
The bomb was discovered during the construction of a road expansion project under a tourism infrastructure development project by the Quang Binh Department of Tourism. Construction workers discovered the unexploded bomb along Truong Phap Street, Hai Thanh Ward, at around 4:00 pm on April 4, 2024.
“When the excavator touched the bomb, it appeared to be a piece of iron or a piece of a boat, but when I scooped it up, I was shocked to see a big bomb”, said Mr. Le Huu Duc, the excavator driver who discovered it. "The bomb I encountered today is not the first time I have come across one. I have been an excavator driver for 20 years. I also encountered bombs bigger than this when I was working on Route 16 in the province."
After finding a bomb, the Provincial Department of Tourism ordered the unit to temporarily stop construction, move machinery, equipment, and workers out of the area where the bomb was discovered, and to coordinate with the Nhat Le Border Guard Station and local military forces to barricade the bomb site.
The bomb was located near the embankment of the Nhat Le River in the heart of Dong Hoi city - a densely populated area with heavy traffic. It is also where fishermen's boats anchor every day. The bomb was found just 500 meters from Nhat Le beach, a famous tourist destination of the city that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.
As a result of a request from the Provincial Military Command this morning, April 5, 2024, MAG coordinated with the Military Command and deployed a Roving Team and experts to the site. MAG's technical experts determined that this was a MK-82 500LB bomb with an approximate one-kilometer damage radius.
After safety measures were established, MAG’s experts carefully investigated to assess the bomb’s condition. Fortunately, the bomb was determined safe to be moved and then transferred by MAG’s team to a controlled demolition site for future safe disposal.
The war ended nearly 50 years ago, but unexploded bombs continue to be found in Vietnam, posing serious danger to people.
The bomb handled in Dong Hoi city today is one of over 390,300 explosive items MAG has safely removed in Vietnam over the past 25 years.
MAG's humanitarian mine action work in Vietnam is supported by the US Department of State and the Government of Japan. To learn more about MAG's work in Vietnam, click here.
NOTES TO THE EDITOR
The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is a global humanitarian and advocacy organisation that finds, removes and destroys landmines, cluster munitions and unexploded bombs from places affected by conflict.
MAG also provides education programmes, particularly for children, so people can live, work and play as safely as possible until they clear the land.
The organisation, which employs some 6,000 people in over 30 countries, also delivers work to reduce armed violence by educating people about the risks of small arms and light weapons and by destroying and marking weapons and helping authorities to safely store arms and ammunition.
Since 1989, MAG has helped over 20 million people in 70 countries rebuild their lives after war. In 1997, MAG shared the Nobel Peace Prize for its role in banning landmines.
More info: maginternational.org
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For media enquiries, please contact:
Vietnam:
Sarah Goring, MAG Country Director for Vietnam
+84 913 485 408
sarah.goring@maginternational.org
Pham Vu Quynh Chi, Communications & Safeguarding Coordinator
+84 (0) 989 946 278
vn.csc@maginternational.org
MAG Headquarters (UK):
MAG’s Communications Team
+44 (0)7872964915
