Following the recent unearthing of a suspected second World War bomb in Rivenwood, Newtownards in Co Down, a safety operation could last for up to five days, according to local police authorities. The potential explosive was discovered last week, leading to the evacuation of numerous homes after it was found on Thursday morning slightly after 11am.
The PSNI’s district commander for Ards and North Down, Superintendent Johnston McDowell, stated that the sheer magnitude of the bomb necessitated the implementation of a 400m (1,312ft) safety cordon. It was deemed that within this boundary, the risk of serious injury or even death was high.
The current operation phase is centred around damage control as the military examines the discovered device, and a decision will be made in due time about the next course of action, including whether the bomb will be made safe on location or taken away for secure disposal.
Superintendent McDowell, referring to similar past operations, suggested that the present operation could take around five days, though the duration could vary. He indicated that over 400 homes were impacted by the operation, a substantial number of properties.
The present stage of operation focuses on mitigating risk, with efforts underway to secure nearby homes. Though no exact timeline has been given, it is generally found that such operations typically last for about five days until the area is declared safe.
In the meanwhile, road users have been advised to steer clear of the area as police cordons have been set up. Superintendent McDowell also mentioned a multi-agency support hub, in collaboration with the local healthcare service trust, which is actively working with the affected residents to find alternative accommodation, particularly for those who are vulnerable.