Fisherman Stumbles Upon WWII Bomb in Indonesia's South Kalimantan

MARABAHAN, KOMPAS.com – A fisherman discovered a rusty 10-kilogram rocket-shaped bomb around the estuary of the Barito River in Indonesia’s South Kalimantan province on Friday, July 24.

Aldi, a fisherman from Tabunganen district, found the bomb which was believed to be of the World War II period, in the area of Sungai Besar Telan Village in Barito Kuala while fishing crab.

Barito Kuala Police Chief Adjutant Senior Commissioner (AKBP) Lalu Mohammad Syahir Arif said the bomb was taken to the village head for further examination.

“Aldi brought the bomb to the village office, where a member of the Indonesian military happened to be there, then the police sub-precinct was contacted. The police bomb squad of the Mobile Brigade came and the bomb was immediately taken,” said Syahir.

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He explained that upon examination of Aldi’s find, the bomb was seen as a rocket launcher-shaped, weighing about 10 kilograms. Covered with rust, the bomb was suspected to be a remnant of World War II, he added.

“By its shape, the bomb looks very old but it is not clear whether it’s an unexploded bomb or not,” he said.

Syahir said the police bomb squad also searched for other similar objects in the vicinity of the area where the bomb was discovered.

During the one-day search, no similar objects were found. “The police bomb squad of the South Kalimantan Mobile Brigade has combed the area and did not discover any bomb,” he said.

Syahir reminded the fishermen and the community to remain cautious in their daily activities around the location where the bomb was discovered.

(Writer: Andi Muhammad Haswar | Editor: Teuku Muhammad Valdy Arief)

Source: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2020/07/25/06385741/nelayan-temukan-roket-di-sungai-barito-diduga-peninggalan-perang-dunia-ii.