A tragic explosion involving a World War II-era bomb occurred in the vicinity of the Biak Fisheries Complex in Papua on Sunday, May 31, 2026. The blast, which took place around 2:45 p.m. local time, resulted in five confirmed fatalities and left three other individuals missing.
The powerful explosion also caused significant damage to four homes surrounding the site. Biak Numfor Police Chief Adjutant Senior Commissioner Ari Trestiawan stated that a coordinated emergency response is currently underway. “The Biak Numfor Police, alongside the Papua Regional Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), the local Military District Command (Kodim), the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), and Basarnas, are actively conducting search and rescue operations for the remaining victims,” Ari reported on Sunday evening, as cited by Antara.
All five recovered bodies have been transported to the Biak Regional General Hospital for processing. In the interest of public safety, local authorities have cordoned off the scene with police tape to prevent further casualties, as there is a potential risk of other unexploded ordnance (UXO) remaining in the area.
Search efforts were temporarily suspended on Sunday evening due to rising sea tides. According to Chief Ari, the joint rescue team is scheduled to resume the search for the three missing individuals on Monday, June 1, 2026. In the meantime, security personnel remain stationed at the location to ensure the site is secured and to monitor for any further hazards.
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Summary
A tragic explosion of a World War II-era bomb occurred in Biak, Papua, on Sunday, May 31, 2026, around 2:45 p.m. near the Biak Fisheries Complex. This blast resulted in five confirmed fatalities and left three other individuals missing. Additionally, four surrounding homes suffered significant damage.
A coordinated emergency response, involving local police, military, and rescue agencies, is actively conducting search and rescue operations for the missing victims. The area has been cordoned off due to the potential risk of other unexploded ordnance. Search efforts were temporarily suspended on Sunday evening but are scheduled to resume on Monday, June 1, 2026.