WWII bomb explodes; 2 workers killed, 2 hurt

Two workers were killed while two others were seriously wounded when a vintage bomb exploded at a construction site along Commonwealth Avenue Quezon City yesterday afternoon.

Police identified the fatalities as Valeriano Bolado and Lorenzo Villar. Rushed to the East Avenue Medical Center were Jeremias Bolado and a still unidentified construction worker.

Investigators said the four were working on the foundation of their barracks in front of a gasoline station when their tools accidentally hit the bomb, triggering the explosion.

The blast left body parts scattered on the road.

A Quezon City Police District (QCPD) bomb disposal squad rushed to the scene to secure the area and search for other bombs that may be buried.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr. said the bomb disposal unit which responds to vintage bomb alarms has so far recovered at least 80 active bombs, mostly World War II artillery shells.

Last month, a worker for a contractor of a road widening project alerted police when he found a mortar shell along Granada street in Barangay Valencia. Responding policemen sealed off the area and recovered six 81 mm mortar shells. — Perseus Echeminada