Federal government’s combined efforts allow effective disposal of wartime bomb
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A Government spokesperson stated today (September 20) that in action to the discovery of a wartime bomb in Quarry Bay the other day (September 19), pertinent federal government departments quickly triggered their emergency situation systems, worked carefully together and showed a high level of professionalism and team effort to perform an evacuation and bomb disposal operation, dealing with the crisis in a safe and organized way. Throughout the whole procedure, different sectors of society, consisting of Care Teams and social work organisations, actively offered assistance and support. People showed excellent orderliness, total understanding and complete co-operation, showing the impressive qualities of Hong Kong individuals and allowing the crisis to be managed in an arranged and correct way, leading to an effective resolution.
Authorities got a report at midday the other day that a thought bomb was found at a building website at 16-94 Pan Hoi Street, North Point. Policeman were released to the scene to perform the examination and managing plans. Officers of the Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau (EODB) verified that the bomb was a round American aerial bomb from World War II, roughly 150 centimetres in length, weighing about 1 000 pounds and consisting of 500 pounds of high dynamites, posturing a considerable risk.
The Security Bureau promptly mobilised almost 500 workers from the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department (FSD), the Civil Aid Service (CAS) and the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) to take part in the emergency situation reaction operation. The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre was instantly triggered to totally co-ordinate and support the cross-departmental emergency situation work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.
In preparation for the disposal operation, the Police spoke with pertinent federal government departments, co-ordinated with stakeholders and performed a detailed effect evaluation. All preventive steps were carried out, consisting of the evacuation of residents from 18 property or business structures close by to guarantee public security and reduce the effect on the general public. Officers of the EODB started the bomb disposal operation last night and effectively finished it at 11.48 am today. The cordon was raised instantly after that.
The FSD released an overall of 58 fire and ambulance lorries, and mobilised 224 fire and ambulance workers throughout the event. After performing a threat evaluation, the department mobilised one jet and one breathing device, and dispatched firefighting robotics to tactical places. To support the EODB’s operations and avoid any influence on neighboring structures, the FSD likewise released the Disaster Response and Rescue Team to the scene to standby. The FSD likewise co-ordinated with the Police to perform a massive evacuation, eventually leaving 2 887 homeowners in overall.
In addition, the FSD worked together with the AMS and the Hong Kong St. John Ambulance to help locals with unique requirements, transferring 5 citizens who were feeling unhealthy to the medical facility, and 6 other people to other ideal lodgings. After the disposal operation was finished, the FSD likewise co-ordinated with pertinent departments, consisting of the CAS, Hong Kong St. John Ambulance, the Home Affairs Department (HAD), and the Social Welfare Department, dispatching freshly presented mass conveyance ambulance to take 8 individuals in requirement and with restricted movement back home.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and the HAD rendered complete assistance to the Police in performing the evacuation operation. Through developed district networks, the HYAB and HAD immediately alerted the owners’ corporations and home management business of the afflicted structures to make sure prompt interactions with homeowners the other day. All 35 Care Teams of the Eastern District were mobilised, while Care Teams of the Wan Chai District likewise offered cross-district assistance. District Council members, together with Care Team members and volunteers, likewise helped homeowners in requirement at the afflicted structures and short-lived shelters.
In reaction to the evacuation, the HAD established an overall of 19 momentary shelters to accommodate locals in requirement. Around 450 citizens remained in these shelters last night, where the District Offices personnel, Care Team members and volunteers offered over night assistance. Bed linen and meals were likewise supplied in the shelters, consisting of breakfast and lunch. For locals’ benefit, coaches were organized by the District Office last night to carry those in requirement to the short-lived shelters, and comparable plans were made today to make it possible for homeowners to go back to their homes. In spite of heavy rain, Care Team members supplied mindful help at pick-up and drop-off points, especially for seniors with movement troubles. In addition, assistance desks were established at the lobbies of afflicted structures to quickly react to and act on locals’ queries. Different locations were specifically organized at the shelters for impacted citizens to rest with their animals.
In this operation, the CAS mobilised over 100 members to actively help in the evacuation, guaranteeing the security of the homeowners. The CAS Command Centre likewise ran at complete capability to supply command and assistance. CAS members helped to set up momentary shelters and supply assistance to those in requirement. After the disposal of the bomb, CAS members continued to help the afflicted citizens in going back to their homes in a safe and organized way.
Throughout the operation, the AMS released 5 ambulances and 47 members to standby at the scene throughout the evacuation. Following the conclusion of the bomb disposal and subsequent unsealing of the website, AMS members helped to carry 6 residents with movement problems back to their houses.
In addition, the Emergency Transport Coordination Centre of the Transport Department (TD) ran round the clock to manage the organized application of different unique traffic and transportation plans. In view of the complete closure of both instructions of an area of King’s Road in Quarry Bay previously, the TD had actually been guiding and co-ordinating public transportation operators over night for keeping readiness and reacting in a sensible way to changing impacted services, with a view to reducing the effect to the day-to-day commute of travelers. Following the resuming of impacted roadways in stages, the TD communicated with operators of franchised buses and the tramways for speedy follow up to make sure safe operation of their services. The afflicted services slowly resumed their regular routings after twelve noon, and the MTR likewise resumed entrances/exits of Quarry Bay Station closed previously. The TD shared the most recent traffic news and appealed overnight through its site, radio and television broadcasts, the HKeMobility mobile application, and so on to offer benefit for the general public to prepare their journeys.
The Government representative stated that the swift, safe and smooth resolution of the bomb disposal scenario depended upon the close co-operation of different federal government departments and their devotion to task, and the active co-operation and assistance of Care Teams, social work organisations, in addition to the impacted residents. The Government thanks the general public and the taking part organisations and organizations for their assistance and cooperation, which made it possible for the crisis to be pacified effectively.