A powerful explosion occurred beneath an elevated house in a fishing village in Indonesia's Papua region. Believed to be a leftover bomb from World War II, the blast killed at least five villagers, injured nearly 20 others, and damaged nine homes.
On 30 May 2026 GMT+7, a powerful explosion happened beneath an elevated house in a fishing village in Papua, eastern Indonesia, on Sunday afternoon. The incident resulted in at least five deaths, nearly 20 injuries, and three people reported missing.
Kahyo Sugarnito, a spokesperson for the Papua police, revealed that preliminary investigations suggest the explosion was caused by a bomb or mortar shell left over from World War II, buried beneath the house. It is strongly believed the blast originated from this old explosive device remaining from that era.
Footage from local television station Kompas TV showed a large fireball shooting into the air followed by thick smoke, while many villagers panicked and fled for safety after hearing the loud explosion echo throughout the area. The blast also caused damage to at least nine houses in the village.
Police reported at least 19 injured individuals, most with minor wounds who have already received treatment. Additionally, three people remain missing, with authorities intensifying search efforts. The Papua police spokesperson added that identifying some of the deceased is challenging due to scattered body parts found at the scene, requiring further investigation. An update will be provided after the search and inquiry are completed.