Old bomb safely removed
Around 3,000 people had to leave their homes in Plymouth, England, after an unexploded bomb from the Second World War (1939–1945) was found buried in a garden.
What happened?
A woman in Keyham, Plymouth, was having building work done on her home on 20 February when her dad came across an unexploded bomb buried in the back garden. It weighed 500 kilograms. Local police declared a “major incident”, which is an official term for a situation that could lead to serious consequences and needs two or more of the emergency services to work together.
Areas within 300 metres of the bomb were roped off on 22 February to keep people safe. Residents within this area were asked to evacuate their homes and stay with friends and family, or offered shelter in community centres. Schools and nurseries were closed while the bomb was removed.
How was the bomb dealt with?
Experts from the Army and the Royal Navy assessed the bomb for three days to make sure it was safe to move. On 23 February, police closed roads and stopped train and bus services. The bomb was put on a truck and driven 1.4 miles to the coast. It was taken out to sea by boat and lowered 14 metres underwater, where it was detonated (blown up) safely, far away from people.
What was the response?
Residents said that the experience had been worrying because they had to be away from their homes for so many days. More than 10,000 people were affected. Gill Sibley told The Guardian newspaper, “It’s been a bit inconvenient but the main thing is that nobody has been hurt. We’ll be back to normal soon enough.” Luke Pollard, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Sutton and Davenport said, “It has made me incredibly proud of the way that, as a city, we’ve pulled together.”