When the noon sun hung over Hong Kong’s Quarry Bay on September 19, 2025, few could have predicted that the day would soon take a dramatic turn reminiscent of the city’s wartime past. Construction workers, busy at a Pan Hoi Street building site, stumbled upon what they immediately suspected was no ordinary piece of debris. It was, in fact, a massive, cylindrical object—rusted, ominous, and unmistakably dangerous. As it turned out, they had uncovered a fully intact, U.S.-made aerial bomb from World War II, buried beneath the city’s bustling streets for nearly eight decades.
According to the Hong Kong Police’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau, the device measured approximately 150 centimeters—just shy of five feet—in length and tipped the scales at a staggering 1,000 pounds (about 450 kilograms). Even more alarming, it still contained 500 pounds of high explosives. Authorities quickly confirmed the bomb was “fully functional,” and, as one official noted in a statement, it “posed a significant danger” to the dense urban landscape above.
The discovery instantly transformed Quarry Bay, a vibrant district known for its mix of residential high-rises and commercial activity, into a danger zone. As reported by CBS News and corroborated by the Hong Kong government’s official press release, the risk was not taken lightly. The Security Bureau wasted no time, activating the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre and mobilizing an impressive array of resources: 500 personnel from the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department, the Civil Aid Service, and the Auxiliary Medical Service.
“We have confirmed this object to be a bomb dating back to World War II,” said Andy Chan Tin-Chu, a police official, speaking to reporters ahead of the delicate operation. The gravity of the situation was clear. “Because of the exceptionally high risks associated with its disposal,” Chan explained, “approximately 1,900 households involving 6,000 individuals were urged to evacuate swiftly.”
Evacuation orders swept through 18 residential and commercial buildings, sending a total of 2,887 residents out of their homes and businesses, with authorities urging haste. Nineteen temporary shelters were rapidly established to accommodate those displaced, and around 450 residents spent the night there, waiting anxiously for news of the operation’s outcome. The streets, normally humming with life, fell eerily silent as emergency vehicles and personnel took over.
The logistical effort was nothing short of remarkable. According to the government’s press release, 58 fire and ambulance vehicles and 224 fire and ambulance personnel were mobilized. Community service organizations and Care Teams worked alongside government agencies to ensure the evacuation ran smoothly. “The swift, safe and smooth resolution of the bomb disposal situation hinged on the close co-operation of various government departments and their dedication to duty, and the active co-operation and support of Care Teams, community service organisations, as well as the affected citizens,” a government spokesperson said, expressing gratitude for the community’s resilience and unity.
Specialists from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau worked through the night and into the morning. For 12 tense hours, they carefully neutralized the bomb, knowing that any misstep could have resulted in mass casualties. Images released by police show flames erupting as experts methodically rendered the device safe, a vivid reminder of the bomb’s deadly potential. The operation, which began late Friday, concluded successfully at around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Remarkably, no injuries were reported—a testament to meticulous planning and execution.
Hong Kong’s history is no stranger to such discoveries. The city, occupied by Japanese forces during World War II, was a frequent target of Allied air raids. The United States and other Allied powers bombed the territory in an effort to disrupt Japanese military operations and supply lines. As a result, unexploded ordnance still lurks beneath the city’s surface, occasionally unearthed by construction or redevelopment projects. The bomb found in Quarry Bay closely resembled others unearthed in 2018, according to local authorities. Each discovery is a stark reminder of the city’s wartime legacy, lying dormant until chance brings it back into the present.
The scale of this particular operation was noteworthy even by Hong Kong’s standards. While previous finds have prompted evacuations and careful disposal efforts, the sheer size of the bomb and the densely populated location made the risks especially acute. As WKRC and other outlets reported, the authorities’ decision to evacuate thousands was driven by a desire to leave nothing to chance. Residents, for their part, responded with patience and understanding, even as they faced the disruption of their daily lives.
“It’s unsettling to think something so dangerous was lying right under our feet,” remarked one resident, echoing a sentiment felt by many. For some, the episode was a vivid lesson in the city’s layered history—where gleaming skyscrapers and modern infrastructure coexist with relics of a violent past. For others, it was a testament to the effectiveness of Hong Kong’s emergency response systems, which swung into action with impressive speed and coordination.
In the aftermath, officials offered reassurances and thanks. The government spokesperson’s statement underscored the importance of community spirit and institutional readiness: “The swift, safe and smooth resolution of the bomb disposal situation hinged on the close co-operation of various government departments and their dedication to duty, and the active co-operation and support of Care Teams, community service organisations, as well as the affected citizens.”
For now, life in Quarry Bay has returned to its usual rhythm. But the memory of those anxious hours—and the sight of a rusted relic from a world at war—will linger. As Hong Kong continues to build upward and outward, the city remains ever watchful for echoes of its past, knowing that history can sometimes be just beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.