WWII Bomb Explosion in Papua Kills Five, Three Missing

A devastating explosion of a World War II-era bomb has claimed five lives and left three people missing in Papua, Indonesia. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Fisheries Complex in Biak Numfor Regency.

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The search is still focused on the outer line, particularly on the coast, because it is considered unsafe to search around the scene.

The blast, which happened at 2:45 PM local time on Walter Monginsidi Street in Fandoi Village, also injured 19 residents and damaged nine homes. A total of 55 people have been evacuated from the area, which has not yet been declared safe.

Biak Numfor Police Chief Senior Commissioner Ari Trestiawan stated that the search for the missing individuals is ongoing, focusing on coastal areas due to safety concerns. Authorities have cordoned off the blast site and are investigating the possibility of remaining explosives. A bomb disposal team deployed to the scene has already uncovered an active grenade during their initial inspection.

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The community is advised not to approach the scene as it is feared that there are still other bombs present.

The Papua Regional Police have dispatched a 16-person bomb disposal unit to thoroughly investigate the explosion and ensure the area is free from further threats. The community has been advised to stay clear of the location due to the potential presence of more unexploded ordnance.

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The investigators have not yet conducted the crime scene investigation as they are still waiting for the bomb disposal team to sanitize the area and declare it free from explosive materials.