Vietnam Central City Destroys over 3 Tons of Post-war Bombs, Mines

Vietnam’s central city of Danang has completed the destruction of more than three tons of post-war bombs, mines and unexploded ordnances (UXO). The bombs and mines were searched for and collected by the military forces in the city since the so far this year. The program to destroy bombs and mines was carried out from October 1 to 4. According to the engineering force of the Military Command of Danang City, these bombs and mines were buried for decades so they were all rusted and easy to explode. The program was organized safely. Engineers of the Danang Military Command transported the bombs, mines and explosives to Dong Nghe training ground (Hoa Vang district) to destroy them. According to a preliminary survey in 2002, nearly 9,300 communes with 6.6 million hectares of land across Vietnam were contaminated with UXOs, accounting for 21.12% of the country’s land area; the central region is the most contaminated. UXOs claimed 42,135 lives and injured 62,163 others from 1975 to 2000. Vietnam has spent tens of millions of USD every year on UXO clearance and providing vocational training to and resettling UXO victims. (VietnamNet)