500-lb WWII bomb dug up
A 500-lb aircraft bomb was safely dug up yesterday morning from an ongoing sewerline project of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. on the shoulder of Isa Drive near the Mobil gas station in Chalan Kiya.
The ordnance was dug up and assessed at 10:30am. It was secured and subsequently relocated to the bomb pit in Marpi at 12:40pm, according to Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services spokesman Derek Gersonde.
The Department of Public Safety contacted DFEMS on Saturday about the bomb that was dug up 10 feet underground near the gas station by Hong Ye Construction workers, who were doing CUC’s sewerline project in the area.
Gersonde said DFEMS, in partnership with the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians out of Guam, Department of Public Safety, the Office of Homeland Security, and Hong Ye Construction workers retrieved the bomb.
After the bomb was discovered on Saturday, police officers were seen watching the site for safety.
Nice pic. It’s good to know that the federal employees are also not forced to adhere to the silly Personal Protective Equipment rules of OSHA in the CNMI 😀
Not to take anything away from the dangerous work these highly trained US Navy personnel do which is much appreciated and needed especially in post war areas, but it would seem that some further basic safety training would be in order about NOT standing under a load being being hoisted above ones head, especially when having been ‘choke’ rigged by what appears to be a 3/4″ nylon line. (which drastically decreases it’s breaking point)
It would be a shame to have one of these fine individuals that often times risk their lives in their area of expertise to get injured or killed due to a mishap involving a rope sling slipping or breaking or lifting equipment malfunction especially often ill maintained local equipment. (as the past has shown many times over).