Singapore army to carry out on-site disposal of WWII bomb in Bukit Timah; residents nearby to vacate homes
A 200m cordon will be put in place and roads in the Upper Bukit Timah area closed while the war relic is dealt with on-site.
- The 100kg World War II aerial bomb was discovered at the construction site of the Myst condominium
- Residents, businesses and a secondary school nearby have been told to vacate between 8am and 7pm
- Stretches of the Bukit Panjang Flyover and Upper Bukit Timah Road will be closed
SINGAPORE: Bomb disposal experts from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will on Tuesday (Sep 26) carry out an on-site disposal of a 100kg World War II aerial bomb found at a construction site along Upper Bukit Timah Road.
Some roads in the area will be closed to facilitate the operation between 8am and 7pm, the police said in a media release.
Residents, businesses and a school nearby have been informed to vacate their buildings during that period.Â
The war relic was discovered at the construction site of the Myst condominium, said the area's Member of Parliament Vivian Balakrishnan, who is also Foreign Affairs Minister.Â
The police said it was informed on Sep 20 of the war relic's discovery during excavation works, and that the SAF's explosive ordnance disposal team had assessed that it would be unsafe to move the bomb.
To facilitate the "on-site controlled disposal", the police will place a 200m cordon around the war relic.
Residents in The Linear, Hazel Park, Bukit 828, Block 154 Gangsa Road and Hazel Park Terrace will have to vacate their buildings during the operation, as with people in shophouses at 778 to 822 Upper Bukit Timah Road.
Staff and students from Greenridge Secondary School will also be affected. The secondary school will switch to home-based learning on that day, said the police.
From 11am to 7pm on Tuesday, stretches of the Bukit Panjang Flyover - between Woodlands Road and Petir Road - as well as Upper Bukit Timah Road - between Petir Road and Cashew Road - will be closed.
Drone activities will also be prohibited in the bomb disposal area.
A 100kg World War II aerial bomb unearthed at a construction site in Singapore will be disposed of in-situ on Tuesday (Sep 26). Lauren Ong with more.
Only the police, SAF emergency and authorised vehicles will be given access to these roads. Traffic Police officers will be on hand to help and redirect motorists.
"Loud sounds can be expected during the controlled disposal of the war relic. The public is advised not to be alarmed and to avoid the area," the police said.
"The public will be alerted when roads are reopened and it is safe to resume normal activities in the area."
Authorities held meetings with residents in the area on Sunday, informing them of the situation.
"There is no need for alarm. But it is important to comply fully with the detailed instructions that will be provided by the police," Dr Balakrishnan said on Facebook.
"The police will keep us informed of the progress of the operation and when residents can return home."
In 2021, a projectile believed to be a war relic was found at Lorong 12 Geylang. The year before that, a similar case was uncovered in the Thomson area, and the projectile was transported elsewhere for disposal.
In 2019, a 50kg aerial bomb was found in River Valley, also during excavation works at a construction site. It was similarly assessed to be unsafe to move and had to be disposed of on-site.