RATCHABURI: A search for unexploded Allied bombs -- the remnants of Second World War Allied airstrikes on the Chulalongkorn railway bridge across the Mae Klong river in this lower Central province -- continued on Sunday, according to an announcement issued by Ratchaburi governor Chayawut Chanthorn.
Seven unexploded bombs were found in the Mae Klong river while piling work was being carried out for the construction of a double-track railway between Nakhon Pathom province and Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin district. The bombs were believed to date from Allied airstrikes in 1945, shortly before the end of the Second World War.
A command centre led by Mr Chayawut was subsequently set up for the search and disposal of bombs. The search began on Nov 28 and involves divers and bomb disposal personnel from the navy's Ordnance Department.
The search covers an area of about 30,000 square metres in the area close to the Thanarat and Chulalongkorn parallel bridges across the Mae Klong river. The area is divided into eight zones.
Altogether seven bombs have been found, including three from Zone 3 and one from Zone 4 on Dec 1. The search has been completed in four zones and will continue in the remaining four.
In the announcement, Mr Chayawut said the recovered bombs will be examined to verify their sizes and types. The public will be informed where and when the bombs will be destroyed.
In 1945, as the Japanese imperialist army was on the verge of being defeated in the former Burma, the Allies conducted airstrikes to destroy routes for the withdrawal of Japanese forces to Malaysia on their way to set up a major army base in Singapore. The withdrawal was mainly made by train.
One of the targets for the Allied airstrikes was Chulalongkorn railway bridge across the Mae Klong river in Ratchaburi's Muang district. Three airstrikes were made on the bridge.
The search for bombs in the river is necessary to ensure safety during the construction of the double-track railway between Nakhon Pathom and Prachuap Khiri Kan's Hua Hin district.
