Five Killed in Suspected World War II-Era Bomb Explosion in Eastern Indonesia

Five Killed in Suspected World War II-Era Bomb Explosion in Eastern Indonesia
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Five people were killed and around 20 others injured after a bomb believed to date back to World War II exploded in a fishing village in Papua Province, eastern Indonesia, according to Indonesian police.

The explosion occurred on Sunday afternoon beneath a house in the area, creating a fireball followed by a thick cloud of smoke, according to footage circulated by local media. The blast also caused major damage to residential properties.

Authorities said nine houses were destroyed in the explosion, while three people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue at the site.

A police spokesperson said preliminary investigations suggest the blast may have been caused by an old bomb left over from World War II. Specialist teams are continuing to examine the area and collect evidence to determine the exact type of explosive.

Officials said 19 people received treatment for minor injuries and that further updates would be released once search and investigation efforts are completed.

Papua has witnessed scattered security incidents in recent years, while parts of Indonesia still contain military remnants from World War II, when the country was a battlefield between Japanese and Allied forces.

The incident has renewed concern over the danger posed by unexploded ordnance still buried in some areas, particularly in villages and remote communities.