A 1,000-pound unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, on the afternoon of Sept. 19. Police promptly evacuated about 6,000 residents across 18 buildings in the vicinity before launching an urgent overnight bomb disposal operation. The evacuation, which involved door-to-door notifications and high-altitude drone broadcasting, was completed by 12:45 a.m. on Sept. 20, with over 2,800 residents assisted directly by police officers.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau (EOD) began defusing the bomb at 2 a.m. under Strong Wind Signal No. 3. Racing against time and adverse weather conditions, police aimed to complete the operation within 12 hours to minimize risk and restore normalcy during the day. The police emphasized that ensuring public safety was their top priority.
Experts from the EOD team and MTR engineers assessed the site and confirmed that the MTR Island Line tunnels were at a safe distance from the bomb. The operation, therefore, had no impact on MTR services, which continued to run normally.
However, road closures and public transport disruptions affected the area. A section of King's Road in both directions was completely closed, impacting 21 daytime bus routes that were diverted to the Eastern Corridor. Tram services between Shau Kei Wan, Kennedy Town, Sheung Wan, and Happy Valley were temporarily suspended, with limited alternative services available. MTR services on the Island Line and Tseung Kwan O Line remained fully operational, though entrances A and B at Quarry Bay Station were temporarily closed.
The MTR Corporation stated it would monitor passenger demand and increase services on the Island Line if necessary.
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