After analyzing the situation and consulting with colleagues abroad, experts have decided to carry out the controlled detonation late Tuesday morning. A representative from Unexploded Ordnance Unit, Igor Boh, said today in Duplek that they have decided to move the bomb from the backyard of a residential building to a pit in a forest 30 meters away, where the bomb will be destroyed. This way, they wish to minimize any damage to nearby structures.
The procedure is very risky because the local resident who had found the bomb beneath the surface near the castle walls decided to move it to his backyard. The move may have caused changes to happen inside the device. Experts are also still unsure what kind of charge the bomb contains.
The bomb will first be enveloped in protective wrapping at its present location. A special cable system will then be used to move it to the pit. There, experts will attempt to separate the part that includes a chemical detonator from the rest of the bomb.
If they succeed, the resulting explosion will have the power of a small hand grenade. If they fail, the explosion will be much more powerful. According to the Explosive Ordinance Unit, it would be visible and audible in a two-kilometer radius. Even if that were to happen, major property damage is not expected. The explosion might only cause roof tiles to break because of falling rocks and other debris. "We'll try to do our best," stressed Boh.
A 7.5-meter protective fence
The area of the detonation has been surrounded by a protective fence measuring 7.5 meters in height. Experts have installed measuring devices that will measure seismic effects of the blasts. The findings would be used to determine the legal damages paid out to nearby residents. Seven experts will take part in the detonation effort onsite, but only two will have direct contact with the bomb. It is still unclear how long the operation will last. "Rushing things is a recipe for disaster, so we’ll take all the time we need to complete our task successfully," explained Boh. The team has never moved a bomb this way before, so only the most experienced crews will take part in the operation.
Evacuations in a one-kilometer radius
Out of precaution, an area with a radius of one kilometer around the bomb site will be evacuated. According to the commander of the Duplek Municipality Civil Defense Office Bojan Turčin, 120 homes and 400 inhabitants in Vurberk are covered by the evacuation order, as are 540 homes and 65 inhabitants in Krčevina. Because many people are on vacation, experts believe that about 150 people will be among those who will have to move for several hours. Evacuees will be sheltered in cultural centers in Zgornja Korena and Grajena.
Sirens will sound to make the beginning of the evacuation process at 10 a.m. Residents will then have 30 minutes to leave the area. All will be given written notices today. When police and fire officials complete an inspection of all buildings to ensure that they are indeed empty, detonation experts will be able to begin their work.
G. C.; Translated by J. B.
