Massive WWII Bomb Forces Overnight Evacuation of 6,000 in Hong Kong

A 1,000-pound World War II era bomb found at a construction site in Hong Kong prompted the overnight evacuation of about 6,000 residents in the Quarry Bay area on the island s western side.

Police and bomb disposal experts confirmed the object dated to World War II and said the ordnance contained about 500 pounds of TNT. The U.S. made device was discovered at a construction site at No. 16-94 Pan Hoi Street, near a busy mix of homes and offices, and authorities activated an emergency evacuation plan to safeguard nearby neighborhoods.

The evacuation affected 1,900 households, roughly 6,000 people, as officials closed streets and set up a perimeter around the site. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau began work around 2 a.m. Saturday and continued through nearly noon as technicians methodically dismantled the device and removed risk from the area.

The disposal operation occurred under a typhoon warning, with police and EOD teams braving challenging conditions to complete the task. Officials said the bomb was neutralized by about 11:48 a.m., and no injuries were reported.

Authorities noted that the device is believed to have been dropped by U.S. service members during the war.

Hong Kong has seen similar WWII era ordnance found in recent years, including a 2018 incident when another 1,000-pound bomb was defused in the business district; that event marked the third such discovery since January of that year.

The discovery underscores Hong Kong s wartime history, during which the territory was occupied by Japanese forces and targeted by U.S. air raids. City officials said the all clear allowed residents to return once the perimeter was deemed safe.

City emergency services said they will continue to monitor for any remaining remnants of World War II ordnance and will issue advisories as needed.