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Unexploded ordnance found at Saipan port
The digging site of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s pipeline project at Port of Saipan, where an unexploded World War II bomb was found on Friday. The news of the bomb’s discovery circulated in the social media, causing many motorists to resort to panic buying of gas until Saturday night. (Ferdie De La Torre)
The Port of Saipan was closed temporarily after unexploded ordnance was found last Friday.
The ordnance was from World War II and after discovery, the Commonwealth Ports Authority and the U.S. Coast Guard closed off certain areas of the port.
It initially affected delivery of imports including fuel—causing panic for some residents to line up for gas and fill up their tanks as early as 2pm on Friday.
However, the affected operations were also resolved and the port was back to normal Saturday morning.
“We’re back to normal, we’re open, but we still have a 100 feet safety zone from the ordnance,” CPA acting executive director Chris Tenorio told Saipan Tribune.
Tenorio said the ordnance was found by a contractor, which was digging for a pipeline for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
“When they were digging they discovered the ordnance,” Tenorio said.
This was confirmed by CUC acting executive director Gary Camacho.
“The contractor was trenching for the pipeline project pipeline and identified the ordnance. Everything was ceased at that point,” Camacho told Saipan Tribune.
Tenorio wasn’t able to release information yet on what kind of ordnance was found as they are waiting for the team from Guam to arrive.
A report was sent to Sector Guam from the Marine Safety Detachment Saipan also on Friday and a Unified Command (UC) has been assembled which is led by CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the U.S. Coast Guard, according to a press release.
The UC coordinated the deployment of a specialized U.S Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment from Guam, which is scheduled to arrive on tomorrow to “conduct further assessment and recommend the way forward.”
Tenorio said more information on the ordnance will be released today and they will also inform the public regarding the removal.
“We have to remove it and we have to announce it to the public so that they will be aware,” Tenorio said.
