Biak Numfor, Papua, Indonesia — A devastating explosion triggered by an unexploded World War II bomb ripped through a residential area in Biak Kota District on Sunday, killing five people and leaving three others missing, authorities confirmed.
The blast, captured dramatically on CCTV cameras near Biak Port, sent a massive fireball shooting more than 20 feet into the air, followed by a towering mushroom cloud of thick black smoke that engulfed the densely populated neighborhood. Several buildings were completely destroyed, with debris hurled through the air by the force of the shock wave.
Local footage circulating online showed the grim aftermath, including residents pulling a young boy’s limp body from beneath piles of rubble. Emergency teams worked urgently at the scene to locate survivors.
Biak Numfor Police Chief Ari Trestiawan told Antara news agency that the bodies of the five victims have been recovered and evacuated. Search and rescue operations for the three missing individuals were set to continue on Monday.
“Bomb disposal teams and joint personnel conducted a thorough search around the explosion point,” officials said.
In a statement, the Biak Numfor Military District Command expressed its condolences: “We express our deepest condolences to the victims’ families. Our primary focus now is the evacuation process, the search for any missing victims, and ensuring the location is completely safe.”
Responders from the Biak Numfor Police, Papua Regional Police Mobile Brigade, Civil Service Police Unit, and search and rescue teams were deployed to secure the area and assist with recovery efforts.
The incident highlights the lingering dangers of unexploded ordnance from World War II, which continues to pose a lethal threat in parts of the Asia-Pacific region decades after the conflict ended. Experts believe the device had remained dormant in the area for over 80 years before being accidentally disturbed or triggered.
This tragedy comes shortly after a similar operation in Paris, where thousands of residents were evacuated in April following the discovery of a World War II bomb during construction work. In that case, authorities successfully carried out a controlled explosion after clearing a wide safety perimeter.
Indonesian authorities have not yet released further details on what may have caused the Biak bomb to detonate, though an investigation is underway. Residents in the surrounding area have been urged to remain vigilant as teams continue sweeping for additional unexploded munitions.