AT around 11:17 a.m. Saturday on Suicide Cliff, Gov. Juan N. Babauta pushed the button that detonated the second batch of World War II live ordnance that was carefully set at the Laderan Laguun cliff line south of the Marpi landfill project.
A huge cloud of smoke rose followed by a deafening explosion—to the amazement of some 50 local and federal government officials and their guests on Suicide Cliff.
“That’s quite an experience,” the governor said after the explosion.
By afternoon, the U.S. Navy Explosives and Ordnance Disposal Team from Guam headed by Lt. Kevin Hagen completed the open burning of over 800 pieces of unexploded ordnance that included projectiles, rocket launchers, grenades, mortars and a 300-lb. depth charge.
“It’s part of our job to come out here and do this to save the lives of others,” Hagen told Variety.
The Navy team brought the governor, other local and federal officials, as well as Variety, to the actual pit south of the landfill where an estimated 500 lbs. of live explosives were set for the second batch of detonation.
Minutes after, the group went back to Suicide Cliff to view the detonation.
Rudolfo M. Pua, director of the Emergency Management Office, said the government needs to regularly ensure the detonation of live ordnance collected from all around Saipan, especially when they already exceed 4,000 lbs. to ensure “public safety.”
Division of Environmental Quality Director John I. Castro pushed the detonation button for the first batch of explosives at around 10:10 a.m.
“It’s kind of exciting and amazing. You are too far from the bombs and just by clicking on a button, they all explode. This is my first time to do this,” Castro said in a separate interview.
The governor lauded the Navy for its continuous visit to the CNMI for the bomb detonations.
“I thank the Navy for doing the detonation of these explosives because this is a great service to the community,” said Babauta, adding that not taking actions on the stockpiled ordnance would result in injuries and even deaths.
Shortly before 9 a.m. on Saturday, the roads leading to the Marpi landfill, the Grotto, Bird Island and Suicide Cliff were already closed from public access.
Public Safety Commissioner Edward Camacho, Sen. Pete Reyes, R-Saipan, Rep. Andrew Salas, R-Saipan, Historic Preservation Office Director Epifanio Cabrera Jr. and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s on-scene coordinator Michelle Rogow were some of the local and federal officials who witnessed the detonations.
EPA gave a 90-day emergency permit to the CNMI for the detonation of unexploded munitions on Tinian and Saipan. The permit expires in July.
A similar detonation took place on Tinian’s Pina Quarry Pit in May, involving a total of 454 pieces of live World War II ordnance.
Saipan was the site of major battles and military operations during World War II.
