Another 500lb UXO to be detonated in Marawi

RIchel V. Umel

October 25, 2019
2:52 pm

ILIGAN CITY (MindaNews / 25 Oct) – The Army Engineers’ Explosive Ordnance and Disposal (EOD) team will detonate another 500-pound unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the weekend, according to Lt. Col. Elmer Oamil, deputy commander of Joint Task Group Builder and commander of the 553rd Engineer Battalion based in Marawi City.

25deonation web — The detonation of unexploded ordnance in Marawi City on 26 June 2019 caused panic among Meranaws. Photo courtesy of Jamalodin Basman Mohammad

Oamil said the 500-pound UXO was one of the general purpose bombs dropped by Philippine Air Force fighter jets over Ground Zero during the Marawi siege in 2017.

He said no other UXOs will be detonated at 10 a.m. on Saturday because the 500-pounder is already too big a bomb by itself.

Oamil said two more general purpose bombs, a 110- and a 260-pounder, were also found but will be detonated at a later date.

Saturday’s detonation has reportedly been announced over local radio to inform residents beforehand.

Last June, a big explosion for the detonation of an UXO caused panic among Meranaws.[]

Oamil said that 30 general purpose bombs and 5,392 surface bombs found by the EOD and the EDDMARI Trading and Construction, the contractor in charge of clearing the debris in the area, were also detonated last Oct. 16, a day before the second anniversary of the liberation of Marawi.[]

(Richel V. Umel / MindaNews)

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