Defence Force finds unexploded bombs in Morobe

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By PISAI GUMAR
THE Defence Force engineering battalion in Igam discovered numerous unexploded bombs while working in a former World War Two US airforce base camp near Nadzab Airport in Wampar, Morobe.
The camp is located at Wanhof, next to the airport.
Mainland Holdings Ltd (MHL) acquired 20,000ha of land at Wanhof to plant sorghum for stock-feed.
MHL safety officer Reuben Bota engaged Defence Force engineers, led by Chief Warrant Officer Steven Jacob, the provincial disaster and emergency unit, MHL employees and locals to check the first 20ha last week.
A total of 73 mortar bombs or unexploded ordnances were collected.
Jacob said that the tractor ploughing the land dug out the UXOs, included 68 mortar rounds weighing 3kg each, and five bigger ones weighing 80kg and 200kg respectively besides gas cylinder.
“These live bombs used during World War Two were dumped elsewhere around Wanhof area after the war ended,” Jacob said.
He said the bombs were dug out from near the surface and there were likely to be more.
The soldiers will continue to assist MHL throughout its ploughing process to ensure the safety of employees. The soldiers earlier exploded five rounds of mortar in tree roots on Saturday while the others were disposed of along the Huon Gulf trench.