Authorities Discover Active Grenade at WWII Bomb Site in Biak, Papua

The Gegana Brimob Bomb Disposal Unit (Jibom) of the Papua Regional Police discovered an active pineapple-type grenade while conducting inspections at the site of a World War II-era bomb explosion in Biak on Monday (2/6).

Biak Numfor Police Chief, AKBP Ari Trestiawan, stated that the grenade was found at the crime scene and was promptly destroyed at approximately 18:00 WIT. Inspections of the explosives are set to continue on Tuesday (2/6), as the bomb disposal team only arrived in Biak on Monday afternoon, limiting the scope of the initial search.

Consequently, the Chief has requested that residents avoid entering the area to prevent any unforeseen incidents until the Jibom team declares the area clear of all explosives. He noted that investigators have not yet been able to conduct a full forensic examination of the scene as they are awaiting the sterilisation of the area by the bomb disposal unit.

Previously, an explosion involving a remnant of a World War II bomb caused the deaths of five individuals: Deflin Raubaba (41), Moris Raubaba (24), Karmila Ayorbaba (25), Israel Raubaba (7), and Isril Raubaba (5). In addition to the fatalities, the incident left three people missing, 19 injured, and nine houses damaged, affecting 10 families with a total of 55 people. Currently, the 55 affected individuals are being housed in temporary shelters provided by the Biak Numfor Local Government. The explosion, suspected to be from a WWII-era relic, occurred in the Fisheries Complex, Biak City District, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua, on Sunday (31/5) at approximately 14:45 WIT.