UPDATED: 1 dead, 3 injured in bomb blast at Lengakiki

One person has died and three others were injured when an unexploded bomb exploded at a residence at Lengakiki, West Honiara, this afternoon.

An eye-witnesses told SBMOnline this afternoon when we visited the scene of the explosion that it was a very scary incident that happened around 3pm.

The witness said the three (2 males and one female) were cooking (bbq) when the bomb exploded – with the two closed to the bomb— seriously injured, one now dead as a result of the blast.

The group were members of a local church and they were preparing food to be sold – as part of their fundraising— when the bomb exploded.

Another eye-witness who lives next to the exposition site says that the bomb exploded towards the western direction sending debris onto the top of the nearby houses.

Another said debris from the bomb blast flew nearly 200 meters over their house.

“It was so frightening. The entire ground was rumbling,” she said.

 When asked about the injuries, he said: “The injuries are really bad— especially the one (male) to his belly.”

SBMOnline understands that the three were rushed to the hospital by private vehicles.

RSIPF bomb experts were still on the site investigating the blast around 6pm tonight.

The Police media was also there.

POLICE STATEMENT

Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) have responded to a bomb blast, which have killed a male person and left three others in critical condition today (9 May 2021) at Lengakiki in Central Honiara.

Officer In-charge (OIC), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, Inspector Clifford Tunuki says, “One of the four casualties has been confirmed death, other two in critical condition and one has some minor injuries.”

OIC Tunuki says, “There are two females among the three casualties whom currently at the National Referral Hospital (NRH), whilst a male person was pronounced dead.”

Inspector Tunuki says, “Based on information we have gathered. Some youths come together at the place of the incident (Legakiki) to do a fundraising drive. They prepared some food and selected a site and erected a fire to cook there for the fundraising— without realising that there was a bomb underground on the location.”

He says police have responded to the incident and secured the scene after the blast.

RSIPF Forensic and EOD team are working together to investigate the incident.

The scene has been cleared but still subject to investigation.”

Mr Tunuki says EOD experts have identified the bomb which is a US 105mm High Explosive Projectile that stayed after the World War II. Other parts of the bomb were safely transported to Hells Points since the base of the bomb still containing explosives for render safe.”

“My condolences to the family of the deceased for the tragic loss of one of their family members,” says OIC Tunuki.

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