A World War II bomb discovered at the Gelagela resettlement area in Rabaul, East New Britain (ENB) province, has been safely removed and transported to a secured site for disposal.
At exactly 2:55PM on October 2, the United States AN-M66 general-purpose bomb, weighing more than 900 kilograms, was successfully lifted and relocated under tight security.
The operation was a joint effort by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit, ENB Division of Disaster Management, Kokopo Fire Service, Police, Kabiu Local Level Government (LLG) officers, local contractor Kokopo Plant Hire, and community volunteers.
East New Britain Governor Michael Marum, who is also a local from the Gelagela–Matalau area, supported the operation.
The bomb had been accidentally unearthed on September 25 by a group of youths digging a pit toilet, sparking fear throughout the surrounding villages.
It was later confirmed to be a U.S. 2,000-pound AN-M66 bomb, a type widely used by Allied forces during World War II.
Rabaul was one of Japan’s major military bases during the war. To neutralize it, the U.S. carried out massive bombing campaigns, leaving behind hundreds of unexploded ordnances (UXO) still being found across East New Britain today.
Retired PNGDF bomb specialist Phillip Makoan, now attached to the ENB Provincial Disaster Office, praised the joint operation.
“I wish to commend everyone involved in today’s work. The bomb is now secured at a safe location and will await the arrival of EOD equipment for its final disposal.”
Makoan also thanked residents for cooperating with the evacuation and adhering to safety notices issued earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, Cornelia Kalimet, Safety and Mitigation Officer with the ENB Division of Disaster Management, said the operation was vital, as the bomb was located only a few meters from the Kabiu LLG chamber, a junior high school, and nearby homes.
“It was a serious threat to the people here, so it was wise to remove it before any risk of detonation.”
She also acknowledged Kokopo Plant Hire for swiftly providing machinery and manpower to move the heavy explosive.
On the other hand, Chief Warrant Officer Rex Niangirua, who led the EOD operation, said this was the second bomb of that size to be removed in East New Britain.
“The PNGDF Naval Boat will assist in transporting EOD equipment from Port Moresby to Kokopo, where the bomb will be safely detonated.”
Furthermore, the successful removal has brought relief to the Gelagela community and serves as a reminder of the lingering dangers of wartime relics still buried beneath East New Britain’s soil.
