Papua Regional Police DVI Team Identifies Victims of World War II Bomb Explosion in Biak

A team from the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) and forensic laboratory of the Papua Regional Police arrived on Tuesday (2/6) at the Biak Regional General Hospital to identify human body parts discovered by a joint SAR team.

According to the Biak Numfor Police Chief, AKBP Ari Trestiawan, a joint SAR team comprising members of the Biak Police Marine Unit and SAR discovered 13 fragments suspected to be the remains of victims from a World War II-era bomb explosion on Monday evening (1/6).

Meanwhile, the forensic laboratory team is set to conduct a crime scene investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion. The investigation has been temporarily delayed as the bomb disposal unit from the Papua Regional Police Brimob Gegana is currently conducting inspections and sterilising the area.

‘Once the crime scene is declared clear of explosives, the investigation will proceed,’ said Ari.

The explosion of the WWII-era bomb in Biak caused damage to nine houses and left three people missing. Additionally, six deaths have been recorded in the incident, with the victims buried on Monday afternoon (1/6). The joint SAR team, involving Basarnas, successfully recovered the 13 fragments of human remains from the site of the explosion.