Hong Kong evacuates 6,000 residents after WWII bomb defused

A World War II-era U.S.-made bomb weighing about 1,000 pounds was discovered at a construction site in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, prompting the evacuation of approximately 6,000 residents from 1,900 households to ensure public safety. The bomb was confirmed to be fully functional and posed exceptionally high risks if mishandled, leading to a carefully managed defusing operation that lasted around 12 hours without any injuries. Authorities successfully neutralized the bomb by burning the TNT explosives inside despite weather delays, allowing residents to return safely once the area was declared secure. This incident is part of a series of WWII-era bombs found in Hong Kong, including similar discoveries in 2018, reflecting the region's history as a battleground during the Japanese occupation and subsequent Allied air raids. The Hong Kong Police Force and explosive ordnance disposal experts coordinated the large-scale evacuation and disposal efforts, emphasizing the importance of swift and careful action given the potential for mass casualties. The operation highlights ongoing challenges related to unexploded wartime ordnance in urban areas with historic conflict.