Possible disaster averted Shop owner detects vintage bomb in time

A cautious junkshop owner avoided possible tragedy after reporting to authorities a vintage bomb after he noticed it releasing smoke yesterday morning.

The incident happened in the junkshop of Jessie Gonzaga in Punta Rizal Street, sitio Humay-humay, barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City.

Lapulapu City Police Chief, Sr. Supt. Louie Oppus told reporters that the explosive is a World War II incendiary bomb. An incendiary bomb is meant to burn enemy forces to death or disable them from horrific burn injuries.

Oppus said that had the bomb exploded it would have caused a fire.

Based on the investigation of the Special Weapons and Tactics of Lapulapu police that Gonzaga bought the said bomb from an unidentified scavenger two days ago thinking it would no longer explode.

But yesterday morning it started emitting smoke yesterday morning prompting Gonzaga to throw it into the water well in their compound for fear of an explosion.

He then called on the police for assistance. The Special Weapons and Tactics team carefully retrieved the bomb from the well and later detonated it in remote sitio Toril, barangay Canjulao.

Still residents from as far as 300 to 400 meters away from the point of detonation still reported hearing the blast.

Police could not say if the bomb was from the Japanese Imperial Army arsenal or from the United States of America Forces in the Far East who bitterly fought in the Mactan Island during World War II.

Incendiary bombs have been used in several occasions during the war including the bombing of Tokyo in Japan and Dresden in Germany.

To prevent possible accidents involving vintage bombs sold to junkshops, Oppus will be calling on junkshop owners for a seminar on how to detect and handle scraps that they suspect might be a bomb or explosive. -Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP