In expert hands: (Left) The Mine Disposal Unit team assessing the site where the UXO was discovered.
KOTA KINABALU: A bomb believed to be a remnant from World War II was safely detonated by the Royal Malaysian Navy in the waters off Pulau Sibuan, Semporna.
The unexploded ordnance (UXO) was discovered by local fishermen on Jan 7.
The navy’s specialised Mine Disposal Unit, led by Lt Commander Ghazali Soleman, was immediately dispatched to secure and assess the site.
Assisted by 11 mine disposal divers from the Mine Warfare and Diving Headquarters (MSPPA) in Lumut and the Naval Region 2 Headquarters (MAWILLA 2) in Sandakan, the team began the delicate task of destroying the UXO on Saturday evening.
The UXO before and after it was detonated in the waters off Pulau Sibuan.
Initial investigations revealed that the bomb, which measured around a metre long and had a diameter of 30cm, weighed around 250kg.
Experts believe the bomb was likely dropped during air raids in the final years of WWII.
“The operation began on Jan 10, with safety as our top priority. Using the blow-in-place method, we ensured that the UXO was destroyed without causing harm to the environment or nearby properties,” said Lt Comm Ghazali.
The bomb was safely detonated four days after its discovery.
Patrol boats from multiple agencies, including the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Marine Police and Sabah Parks, secured the surrounding area during the operation.
Post-detonation analysis confirmed that the operation was a success, with no damage reported to marine life or nearby habitats.
Local villagers also expressed relief following the successful disposal of the bomb.
This is not the first time an UXO was discovered in the waters around Sabah, a region that saw significant military activity during WWII.
The navy has urged locals to report any suspicious objects to authorities and to avoid handling them.
The operation concluded at 6.40pm after the area was declared safe.
