SAF detonates 250kg WWII bomb uncovered at Tanah Merah Coast Road

A bright flash lit up the dark skies, and loud blasts shook the ground at 2.22am, 2 Apr as the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) "bomb busters" safely disposed of a bomb uncovered during construction works at Tanah Merah Coast Road.

This World War (WW) II aerial bomb had been found at 4.55am on 31 Mar.

At 250kg, it weighed more than twice that of the 100kg WWII bomb unearthed in Bukit Timah back in 2023.

Explosive experts in action

Many hours of preparation took place before the EOD team from 36th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (36 SCE) could destroy the bomb.

They had swung into action after receiving the alert by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in the early hours of 31 Mar.

After a thorough assessment of the bomb’s condition, the EOD team determined that it was unsuitable for transportation, and an on-site disposal was required.

Safeguarding the public & ensuring safe operations

Strict safety protocols guided their every step, said Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Tay Jun Jie. The 38-year-old is the Commanding Officer of 36 SCE.

“Every operation is carefully planned and executed with comprehensive risk assessments conducted beforehand.”

For instance, the EOD team worked closely with partner agencies – such as the SPF and Changi Airport Group – to facilitate site preparations as well as implement security cordons and other precautionary measures.

Conducting the controlled disposal in the vicinity of Changi Airport also carried unique challenges, added LTC Tay.

“One of our principal considerations was not to disrupt the routine of Changi Airport.”

“We had a two-hour firing window to execute the operation… (and) this window (of time during the early hours of 2 Apr) has the least impact to Changi Airport operations.”

LTC Tay added that the EOD team also consulted with DSTA engineers to minimise risk to personnel and critical infrastructure.

“Due to the blast and fragmentation hazards, we engaged DSTA engineers to conduct a modelling (of the blast and fragmentation) to determine the safety measures required for this disposal operation.”

What it takes to be a bomb buster

To become an EOD operator, soldiers must undergo a rigorous selection, training and certification process, said LTC Tay.

“An individual will take up to a minimum of three years to attain the required skill sets, in order to be certified as a team commander to execute such a disposal operation.”

LTC Tay noted that this training has equipped the EOD operators with skills to swiftly handle real-world threats. “We maintain a high level of operational readiness… I’m extremely proud of what we have achieved.

“The protective works (we constructed) took many hours of hard labour from our people, and achieving the desired outcome for this disposal operation will definitely be very memorable for everyone in the unit.”

Find out more about what the work and training that the SAF’s bomb experts do!