Time Bomb

How WW2 is still wreaking havoc in the Pacific

Time Bomb The deadly legacy of wars fought over eight decades ago in the Pacific between Japan and the Allies continues. Solomon Islanders have been left with the fallout of volatile weapons littering the sea floor.
"Potentially thousands of litres of oil are released at one go... that's kind of one of the worst-case scenarios for this kind of problem", says Dr Matt Carter, a marine archaeologist investigating how WWII shipwrecks in the Pacific are becoming an environmental danger. Japan and the US assert ownership over the wrecks and the weapons within them, claiming them as war graves, but are not helping to mitigate the dangers they pose. Senri Tengata, a Solomon Islander, was badly burnt by an unexploded bomb. "I just moved it and it exploded now" he says; and instances like this are becoming more frequent as wrecks corrode over time. "I've been given a second chance to live. So the second chance that I have now is to tell others about my experience" says Maeverlyn Pitanoe, also a survivor of an unexploded bomb, who is frustrated at the lack of responsibility taken by the US and Japan over these wrecks. For now, bomb defusal experts and environmentalist will continue their efforts to minimise the impact of WWII's legacy.
FULL SYNOPSIS

This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. For more info see our Cookies Policy