Seven killed by WWII bomb in Myanmar

Sep 01, 2011 |

Yangon

Tags:

blast

Seven people died when an old World War II bomb exploded in western Myanmar, officials said on Thursday.

"They were killed accidentally in the blast while trying to remove a bomb that appeared at the sea shore near their village. They seemed to have no idea what it was," said a government official who asked not to be named.

The accident took place on Wednesday near the port town of Sittwe. The victims were all men.

"We think the old bomb was left over from World War II. We have no idea how many of them are left buried around the country," a second official said.

Fatal accidents involving old bombs are rare in Myanmar, which saw fierce fighting during World War II, when it was occupied by Japan before returning to British rule until its independence in 1948.

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