A deadly explosion caused by a suspected World War II-era bomb has claimed five lives, left three people missing, and injured at least 19 others in Biak Numfor Regency, Papua. The incident has once again highlighted the lingering dangers posed by unexploded wartime ordnance that remains scattered across parts of eastern Indonesia more than eight decades after the end of the Second World War.
The explosion occurred on Sunday afternoon, May 31, at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time in the Fisheries Complex area along Walter Monginsidi Street in Fandoi Village, Biak Numfor. The blast devastated part of the residential neighborhood, damaging homes, causing casualties, and triggering an emergency response involving local police, bomb disposal specialists, and disaster management authorities.
As search operations continued on Monday, officials confirmed that five residents had been killed in the explosion. The victims were identified as Deflin Raubaba, 41, Moris Raubaba, 24, Karmila Ayorbaba, 25, Israel Raubaba, 7, and Isril Raubaba, 5. The deaths have sent shockwaves through the local community, where many families have lived for generations in an area that still bears historical traces of the Pacific War.
Authorities also reported that three residents remain missing following the blast. The missing individuals have been identified as Yulianus Raubaba, 26, Lae Madura, 45, and Abis Marandof, 27. Search teams have been working to locate them, although difficult conditions at the scene have complicated recovery efforts.
Biak Numfor Police Chief Senior Commissioner Ari Trestiawan said search operations are currently concentrated outside the immediate blast zone because investigators have not yet declared the area safe.
“The search remains focused on the outer perimeter, particularly along the coastal area, because conducting searches near the center of the explosion is still considered unsafe,” Ari said on Monday.
The decision reflects growing concerns that additional unexploded ordnance may still be present around the site. Investigators believe the device that exploded may not have been the only wartime explosive buried in the area.
The explosion injured 19 people, some of whom sustained serious wounds from flying debris and the force of the blast. Medical personnel responded quickly to transport victims to nearby healthcare facilities for treatment.
Local authorities have not yet released a detailed breakdown of the injuries, but officials confirmed that emergency services remain on standby in case further casualties are discovered during search and recovery operations.
Beyond the human toll, the explosion caused significant property damage. Nine houses were damaged by the blast, with several structures suffering heavy destruction. Windows were shattered, walls collapsed, and household belongings were scattered across the area.
The damage forced authorities to evacuate dozens of residents as a precautionary measure.
According to police, 55 people have been temporarily displaced from their homes because the location has not yet been fully secured. Evacuation centers and temporary shelters have been established to accommodate affected families while security assessments continue.
Residents have been urged not to return to the area until bomb disposal experts complete their inspections and declare the site free from additional explosive threats.
The evacuation has created anxiety among local families, many of whom are uncertain about when they will be able to return home. For some residents, the fear extends beyond the immediate consequences of the blast, as concerns grow over the possibility that other wartime explosives may still be hidden beneath the ground.
To secure the area, police have established a security perimeter and installed police lines around the blast site. Officers are also conducting a broader search of surrounding areas to identify any remaining explosives that could pose a danger to residents and emergency personnel.
“We urge the public not to approach the scene because there are concerns that other bombs may still be present,” Ari said.
The warning reflects the seriousness of the situation. Unexploded ordnance can remain active for decades, and even heavily corroded explosives may still detonate if disturbed.
Recognizing the potential threat, the Papua Regional Police have deployed a specialized bomb disposal team from the Mobile Brigade Corps, commonly known as Brimob.
A total of 16 bomb disposal personnel were dispatched to Biak Numfor under the leadership of Commissioner Hanasbey. Their mission includes identifying unexploded munitions, neutralizing active explosives, and ensuring that investigators can safely access the blast site.
The bomb disposal team began examining the area shortly after arriving and quickly discovered evidence supporting fears that more explosives remained nearby.
During an inspection conducted on Monday evening, officers found an active pineapple-type hand grenade in the vicinity of the explosion site.
The discovery immediately reinforced concerns that the area may contain multiple pieces of unexploded wartime ordnance rather than a single isolated device.
Finding an active grenade also forced authorities to delay forensic investigations.
According to Ari, crime scene investigators have not yet been able to conduct a full examination of the blast location because bomb disposal personnel must first complete a comprehensive sterilization process.
“Investigators have not conducted a formal crime scene examination because we are still waiting for the bomb disposal team to sterilize the area and declare it free from explosive materials,” he explained.
The presence of unexploded munitions presents unique challenges for investigators. Unlike conventional criminal investigations, authorities must first ensure that every potential explosive hazard has been identified and neutralized before forensic teams can safely collect evidence.
The incident has renewed attention on Biak’s wartime history.
Biak Island was one of the most strategically important battlegrounds in the Pacific theater during World War II. In 1944, fierce fighting erupted between Japanese and Allied forces during the Battle of Biak, one of the major military campaigns preceding the liberation of the Philippines.
Thousands of troops fought on the island, which served as a critical location due to its airfields and proximity to key military routes across the Pacific.
The intense military activity left behind large quantities of ammunition, artillery shells, grenades, bombs, and other explosive materials. Although many were recovered after the war, unexploded ordnance continues to be discovered periodically across the island.
For decades, residents of Biak have occasionally encountered remnants of the war while farming, fishing, or conducting construction work. In some cases, explosives have been safely removed by authorities. In others, accidental detonations have caused injuries and fatalities.
Experts note that tropical climates can accelerate corrosion, making old explosives appear harmless even when they remain fully capable of exploding. As a result, authorities consistently warn residents against handling any suspicious military objects discovered in the ground or along coastal areas.
The latest tragedy serves as a stark reminder that the legacy of World War II remains a present-day danger in several regions of the Asia-Pacific.
While many communities view wartime relics as historical artifacts, unexploded bombs and grenades continue to pose significant risks to public safety. Similar incidents have occurred in other countries across the region, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Japan, and the Philippines, where remnants of wartime battles are still being uncovered.
For families in Biak Numfor, however, the issue is no longer a matter of history. It is a painful reality that has claimed lives, destroyed homes, and left an entire community shaken.
As search teams continue looking for the three missing residents and bomb disposal experts work to secure the area, local authorities remain focused on preventing further casualties. Investigators are expected to begin a comprehensive examination of the blast site once the location is declared safe.
Until then, residents remain displaced, mourning the victims while waiting for answers about what exactly triggered the deadly explosion and whether more wartime explosives remain hidden beneath the ground.
The tragedy has underscored the importance of ongoing efforts to identify and remove unexploded ordnance across former battlefields. More than 80 years after World War II ended, the WWII bomb explosion demonstrates that the conflict’s legacy can still have devastating consequences for communities living amid its forgotten remnants.
