Australian, British aid workers killed in blast in Solomon Islands

A police vehicle arrives at the scene of a blast which killed two men from Australia and Britain who worked for an aid agency that helps to dispose of unexploded bombs, in Tasahe, a neighbourhood in West Honiara, Solomon Islands, September 21, 2020 in this picture obtained from social media. Mandatory credit ROYAL SOLOMON ISLANDS POLICE FORCE/via REUTERS

Two men from Australia and Britain who worked for an aid agency that helps to dispose of unexploded bombs were killed in a blast in Solomon Islands, their employer said on Monday.

It was not immediately clear if the employees of Norwegian People's Aid were trying to defuse live munitions at the time of the explosion in Honiara late on Sunday.

Police said the site had to be declared safe before investigators could determine what happened. Australian media reported that the explosion happened in a residential area.

Forensic officers work at the site of a blast which killed two men from Australia and Britain who worked for an aid agency that helps to dispose of unexploded bombs, in Tasahe, a neighbourhood in West Honiara, Solomon Islands, September 21, 2020 in this picture obtained from social media. Mandatory credit ROYAL SOLOMON ISLANDS POLICE FORCE/via REUTERS

Norwegian People's Aid works to locate unexploded bombs dropped during World War Two, when the Pacific nation was the scene of fierce battles between U.S. and Japanese forces.

The group said it had suspended its activities on Solomon Islands and was assisting with the investigation.

(Reporting by Renju Jose; Editing by Stephen Coates)