People who witnessed the detonation last August described it as the “loudest ever” compared to Saturday’s explosion.
“We maintained the 1,000-lbs net explosive weight capacity for the area,” CNMI Explosive Ordnance Team commander Capt. Pete Leon Guerrero said.
He said about 85 percent of the Marpi project site had been cleared.
“Field work will stop by the end of the month,” said Ampro president John Scott.
The project, which involved heavy earthmoving equipment used in unearthing the unexploded World War II munitions from the Marpi homestead project, started last March.
Last Saturday, 600 pieces of World War II munitions were detonated, said Leon Guerrero.
After a coordinating clearance from Emergency Management Office Director Jack Omar, who was also present at the Suicide Cliff command post, Leon Guerrero gave the go signal to the experts from the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Detachment Marianas who had earlier wired the ordnance with C-4 explosives.
After an initial blast to clear the area of birds, a loud explosion followed, with thick black smoke billowing from the detonation site.
Several seconds later, the impact was felt by the viewers, who included children, on Suicide Cliff.
Applause, handshakes and a toast among those involved in the operation followed the detonation.
Over 5,000 lbs. of unexploded ordinance had already been detonated this year, and most were unearthed from the Marpi homestead project.
The public is reminded to contact DPS if they find any unexploded ordnance near their homes or communities.
Members of the public should not touch any unexploded ordnance they may find.
