WWII aerial bomb found near former Zouk site successfully disposed of: police
UPDATE: Police issued a final statement on the operation at 6.15pm.
SINGAPORE — An unexploded World War II aerial bomb that was discovered near the former site of the popular Zouk nightclub has been successfully disposed of onsite, said the police on Monday (18 November).
In a Facebook post, police said the 50kg war relic, which was discovered at a construction site along Jiak Kim Street last Tuesday, was successfully disposed by the Singapore Armed Forces’ Explosive Ordnance Disposal team at about 4.35pm on Monday.
Nearby roads were closed to traffic and a 200m safety cordon was set up during the controlled disposal operation, which was scheduled to take place between 8am and 6pm.
Hundreds of residential units in the area – including those at the Mirage Tower, Tribeca By The Waterfront and Rivergate condominiums – were also temporarily evacuated for the operation.
An office worker, who declined to be named, said he heard a small explosion at around 11.30am and a louder one at about 3pm from his workplace at Great World City Office Tower.
“The second explosion was about five times louder than the first one,” the 33-year-old said.
In a final statement issued at 6.15pm on Monday, the police said the Building and Construction Authority, the Public Utilities Board, the Land Transport Authority and SP Group have assessed that the affected buildings and roads are structurally safe.
They added that River Valley Green, Kim Seng Road (between Kim Seng Promenade and Havelock Road), Zion Road slip road towards Kim Seng Road and the Singapore River have been reopened to vehicles and ferries.
“The condominium residents, hotel guests and staff have been informed that it is safe to return to their homes and hotel,” the police said.
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