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Bomb found in Garapan
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Posted on Jul 14 2000
The Emergency Management Office has sought the assistance of a Guam-based Explosive Ordnance Disposal team for the detonation of a 16-inch live ordnance projectile discovered Wednesday morning across the former Figueroa’s Restaurant in the Garapan commercial district.
The explosive was found lying in the middle of the ground where a two-storey commercial building is being built.
The 1,800-pound bomb is the largest discovered on Saipan so far, according to EMO Response and Recovery Coordinator Joseph Sablan. The bomb is also estimated to hold roughly 153 lbs. of explosives, he added.
The buried projectile was discovered by back hoe operator Protacio Elias and his co-workers employed by Tropex Garden.
After the explosive was discovered, EMO immediately contacted EOD experts from Guam.
The bomb disposal team from the neighboring island flew to Saipan Wednesday night.
The team and the staff from EMO and the Saipan Mayor’s Office yesterday joined forces to remove the bomb from the site after receiving the EOD confirmation to proceed.
The Guam-based ordnance team assured EMO that moving the projectile was not at all dangerous.
The bomb will be detonated this weekend, according to Mr. Sablan.
Meanwhile, EMO has not ruled out the possibility of finding more bombs buried on that same site.
“Ordnance is scattered all over the island. We find one almost every day. But I believe this is the biggest one discovered,” said Mr. Sablan. (MM)
