Singapore detonates unexploded WWII-era bomb found on construction site
- Thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes ahead of the controlled explosion, which caused a thunderous boom in the city state on Tuesday
- The device likely contained around 47kg of explosives, according to local media reports – enough to destroy an entire block of flats
More than 4,000 people were evacuated from nearby residences for the controlled detonation, which local media reported was the largest-ever exercise involving a WWII relic in Singapore.
The unexploded aerial bomb was discovered last week where a condominium was being built in the suburb of Bukit Timah, police said on Sunday.
A mushroom cloud rose in the distance on Tuesday morning as bomb disposal experts carried out the first of a series of explosions.
Before the detonation military officers were seen by reporters setting up sandbags around the area where the bomb would be detonated to contain the blast.
Soldiers carried the bomb on a net from where it was found into the sandbagged area, where charges had been laid.
Surrounding streets were empty of cars and a 200-metre cordon set up around the site kept locals at bay as the blast was triggered.