This week, MAG’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, in coordination with the Quang Binh Provincial Military Command, successfully removed an MK81 bomb weighing 118kg from a residential garden in Yen Hoa Commune, Minh Hoa District. The bomb, with a blast radius of up to 1,500 meters, posed a significant threat to the safety of local residents.
The bomb was uncovered during routine excavation work for a water pipe, just one metre below the surface. When local residents noticed the discovery, they immediately stopped the excavation and reported the situation to local authorities.
The discovery triggered an immediate response from the authorities, with MAG's EOD team quickly securing the site, rendering the bomb safe for transportation, and moving it to a controlled storage facility. The bomb will await safe disposal in accordance with established procedures.
Yen Hoa commune, located in Minh Hoa District of Quang Binh, is a mountainous region that has long been affected by the remnants of the Vietnam War.
The commune lies along the National Highway 12A, a key logistical route that once served as a corridor for transporting military supplies from the North to the South during the war.
Due to the intense aerial bombings and shelling that took place along this strategic route, the area remains heavily contaminated with unexploded ordnance. The discovery of this MK81 bomb is a stark reminder of the lingering dangers of war, which continue to threaten the lives of civilians in the region.
Residents and workers in the region are reminded of the potential dangers posed by unexploded ordnance remnants from the war and are encouraged to report any suspected ordnance to local authorities immediately.
MAG's work in Vietnam is made possible through the generous support of the governments of the United States and Japan.
Learn more about our work in Vietnam here.
