A World War II-era bomb was safely detonated by the Bomb Disposal Unit from the Papar and Sabah police headquarters on Wednesday morning.

Papar police chief Supt Kamaruddin Ambo Sakka confirmed that the controlled detonation took place at 10.30am after the unexploded ordnance (UXO) was discovered at a construction site near Lok Kawi Plastic Industries in Kinarut.

“The bomb was found by a backhoe operator who noticed a large unidentified object while digging on Tuesday afternoon. Realising it was an old bomb, he immediately alerted the police,” Kamaruddin said in Papar, on Wednesday.

He said the Bomb Disposal Unit verified that the bomb was still active and believed it was a remnant from World War II.

“As a precautionary measure, several roads in the area were temporarily closed, and the Railway Department was informed to suspend operations during the detonation process,” he added.

Public announcements were made to alert residents, while multiple agencies, including the Environment Department, Civil Aviation Department, Sabah Electricity, Sabah Health Department, and the Fire and Rescue Department, coordinated safety measures.

“If anyone encounters suspicious objects, they should report them immediately to the police by calling 088-912222 or their nearest police station,” Kamaruddin said. – February 26, 2025