A MAN turned over to the authorities an unexploded World War II ordnance he discovered in San Antonio while a drum containing an unknown yellow orange substance was found at an ongoing excavation project at Hopwood Junior High School.
Ben K. Somol, environmental specialist from the Division of Environmental Quality, said samples will be taken from the drum, which was buried on the ground, for laboratory analysis.
DEQ and EMO said the substance may be toxic and the area should be secured until the laboratory test results are out.
Sgt. Tars Olopai of the Department of Public Safety received the live munitions from Kinte Williams at around 11:15 a.m. yesterday.
DPS notified the Emergency Management Office, which immediately inspected and brought it to the Marpi bunker.
Joe Sablan of the EMO Response and Recovery Team identified the munitions as a Japanese projectile with a 3-inch diameter.
Sablan, together with EMO Response and Recovery Team supervisor Ben Lieto, reminded the community not to touch or carry any ordnance they find. Instead, they should call DPS or EMO personnel and they will be the ones to retrieve the explosives, he said.
“This is to protect your own safety,” said Sablan upon getting hold of the ordnance at the DPS office shortly before 12 noon yesterday.
A U.S. hand grenade was also recovered from the residence of Consuelo Reyes in Afetnas in San Antonio at around 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday, according to Sablan.
Saipan was a battleground during World War II.
