Cluster Bomb / Submunition event in Quảng Trị, Quảng Trị area, Viet Nam on Fri 31st July 2020

During the process of weeding cassava, a resident in the upland district of Quang Tri discovered some bombs with intact detonators. On July 31, the Quang Tri mobile mine clearance team under Peace Tree Vietnam (PeaceTrees Vietnam - PTVN) coordinated with Border Guard Thanh, the government of Xy commune, Huong Hoa district to successfully handle the tunnel. BLU-24 cluster bombs (also known as orange bombs) in the area. It is known that while we were weeding cassava, Mr. Ho Van Son, residing in Ta Nua village, Xy commune, discovered a number of circular bombs scattered at a depth of several tens of cm, so he reported to the competent forces to check investigation and handling. After receiving the information, the local authorities and the Quang Tri Mobile Mine Clearance Team have zoned and evacuated a number of people in the area for treatment. After nearly 2 hours of expanding the scope of search and collection, the competent forces took 75 BLU-24 ballistic bombs safely off the ground. According to preliminary information, the cluster bombs were in long tubes, dropped by American planes during the war years. The fuses are still very new, which can explode if hit hard. BLU-24 bombs are called "orange bombs" because of the shape and size of an orange mounted on a plastic base. This is a cluster bomb that can be installed in a variety of parent bombs. At present, all the detected cluster bombs have been collected and brought to the gathering point to conduct the destruction.