Dry run detonation made for World War II bombs

A dry run was done yesterday for the detonation of World War II vintage bombs found in Kawit Island.

A booster charge was exploded at an abandoned mining pit in Toledo City where 25 war vintage bombs will be blasted and buried today.

“The booster didn’t make a hole in a one-inch-thick steel plate but the military said it would suffice,” said Philip Zafra, chief of staff of Cebu CIty Mayor Michael Rama.

Lt. Col. Christopher Tampus, Central Command spokesman, said their Explosives Ordnance Division (EOD) made a final inspection of the old Biga open mining pit in Toledo City.

He said they need detonators which they are waiting for from their national office.

But “booster” explosives used in the mining firm’s commercial operations were offered by the Camen Copper Corp. and will be used instead in today’s exercise.

Three holes were dug in a portion of the mining pit.The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) recommended the site in Toledo City located 50 kilometers west of Cebu City.

During the dry run, three holes were dug six feet deep near a slope.

The holes, measuring three feet by three feet wide, are located 15 feet away from each other.

Zafra said the CCC provided a bulldozer and grader to clear rocks and boulders from the area.

Before they left the area, Zafra said EOD personnel tested an explosives booster on a l/4 inch thick steel plate.

It wasn’t able to bore a hole in the steel but managed to bend it.

Zafra said he requested for a fire truck to be sent to Kawit Island to spray water on the bombs to remove mud, rock and cement.

The bombs will be loaded on dump trucks of Dakay Construction at dawn today for transportat to the CCC compound startingt 4 a.m.

EOD and CCC officials wanted to set off one vintage bomb first to gauge the impact of its explosion and decide the volume of explosives and safety fuses are needed during the actual detonation.

Orica Phils. Inc., which supplies CCC’s industrial explosives, will provide the explosives and triggering devices.

The Biga open mining pit site is located two kilometers from the nearest residential area.

Centcom is also coordinating with the Cebu City police for transporting the bombs to the site.

Each truck will be loaded with sand to ensure that the bombs won’t move around too much during the travel.

Tampus said they will coordinate with Toledo City police and the city government.

He said they don’t want a repeat of what happened in Taguig City, Metro Manila where two policemen were killed in an explosion after damaging a vintage mortar bomb in a welding shop.

CCC said it was willing to shoulder the cost of the bomb detonation and disposal.

It said the open mining site is an ideal location to contain the explosions since it is isolated and stands on stable ground.