Quang Tri, 3 July 2025 — The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of Project RENEW/NPA responded to two emergency callouts from local residents and safely destroyed three cluster munitions left behind from the war.
Team Leader Hoang Kim Chien speaks with Ms. Hoang Thi Tinh, who reported a cluster munition she found near the Rao Truong Village kindergarten and community house. Her prompt call to the hotline helped prevent a potential tragedy.
In Rao Truong Village, Ben Quan Commune (Vinh Linh District), 51-year-old Hoang Thi Tinh discovered a bomb “the size of a pomelo” near the village’s community house and kindergarten.
“I was worried for the safety of the villagers, so I called the hotline immediately,” said Ms. Tinh, a mother of three.
A BLU-61 cluster bomb discovered near a populated area in Ben Quan Commune. These small but deadly devices remain a dangerous legacy of war in Quang Tri Province.
Upon arrival, EOD Team Leader Hoang Kim Chien confirmed that the item was a BLU-61 cluster munition. The team carried out a safe and controlled demolition on site.
Later that same day, in Khe Lap Village, Dong Ha Ward, acacia farmer Nguyen Van Lap reported a cluster munition found while preparing land for a new planting season. The EOD team used detection equipment and uncovered a second item buried beneath a tree stump. Both munitions, identified as BLU-63 cluster bombs, were safely destroyed.
Mr. Nguyen Van Lap explains how he found a cluster munition while preparing land for a new acacia crop. The EOD team later uncovered and destroyed two BLU-63 bombs on his plantation.
A safe, controlled detonation carried out by the RENEW/NPA EOD team. Each explosive item destroyed brings Quang Tri one step closer to lasting safety.
As of the end of June 2025, RENEW/NPA EOD teams have responded to 175 emergency callouts via the hotline and safely destroyed 331 explosive items, preventing potential accidents and injuries in the community.
Team Leader Chien reviews safety protocols and deployment plans with team members — a crucial step to ensure every operation is carried out effectively and safely.
Local residents like Ms. Tinh and Mr. Lap play a critical role in humanitarian mine action. Their alertness and timely reports enable our teams to remove explosive hazards quickly and restore safety to daily life.
We are deeply grateful to the U.S. Department of State for their generous support, which makes this life-saving work possible in Quang Tri Province.
If you see a suspicious item, call 0901 941 941 immediately.
One call can save lives.
