Sappers in the northern province of Thai Binh safely defused a 250-kg bomb left from wartime on June 5. Local residents in Hung Ha district’s Cong Hoa commune found the bomb on June 4, when upgrading a dyke section along the Luoc River. After receiving information on the whereabouts of the explosive device, local authorities had laid siege to the dangerous area and deployed troops for safeguarding. The bomb was moved to a safe place on the same day and defused the next day. An estimated 800,000 tones of unexploded bombs and mines leftover from wartime are buried over 20% of the country’s territory, mainly in the central region, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Leftover wartime bombs and mines have claimed about 42,130 lives and injured 62,160 others across Vietnam. It is estimated it will take 100 years and 10 billion USD to clear post-war mines remaining in Vietnam, the ministry said. The Vietnamese government approved a 2010-2025 national program on tackling post-war bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances on April 21, 2010, known as Program 504. Its goal is to use national and international resources to minimize the effects of UXOs on social-economic development, defense and security, while ensuring safety for people and helping victims reintegrate into society. (VietnamPlus June 5, Nong Thon Ngay Nay June 6 p2)
