A backhoe operator unearthed a smoking vintage bomb while excavating along a river for a flood control project in Talisay City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday afternoon, July 22.
The explosive was discovered at around 2:45 p.m. in Hacienda Minulu-an, Brgy. Matab-ang, the Talisay police reported.
Police said the backhoe bucket accidentally struck and exposed the ordnance, which began emitting white smoke and prompted workers to flee the area.
Responding personnel cordoned off the site, temporarily closed the affected road, rerouted vehicles and cleared people from the vicinity.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit identified the object as a corroded M47 100-pound white phosphorus unexploded ordnance.
The EOD team conducted a render-safe procedure before transporting the ordnance to the Talisay City dumping site in Brgy. Concepcion pending final disposal.
Authorities said the device could have caused deaths, injuries and damage to nearby properties within an estimated 300- to 500-meter hazard radius had it not been immediately secured.*
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