On 19 September 2025, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team from NPA/RENEW safely removed a wartime 81mm mortar round discovered during construction at the home of Mr. Nguyen Viet Tri on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Dong Ha Ward, Quang Tri Province.
The EOD team of NPA/RENEW timely arrived at the construction site in Dong Ha Ward to deal with a mortar found by local workers.
Discovered During Construction
The NPA/RENEW EOD team promptly arrived at the construction site in Dong Ha after being alerted by local residents about the discovery of ordnance. Workers had uncovered the round while cutting through a concrete foundation to install a drainage pipe. Recognizing the danger, Mr. Tri quickly called the Quang Tri Mine Action Center hotline to report the incident.
The following morning, the EOD team drained water from the pit and identified the item as a U.S.-made 81mm mortar round. Since the munition was safe to move, the team transported it out of the residential area and later destroyed it at the central demolition site.
The 81mm mortar round discovered by construction workers was safely removed by the NPA/RENEW EOD team.
Residents Reassured, Work Resumes
An 81mm mortar round, heavily corroded after decades underground, was uncovered during construction work in Đông Hà. Its discovery brought the construction to a sudden halt until NPA/RENEW’s EOD team arrived to ensure safe removal.
Mr. Tri expressed his relief and reassurance, noting that construction could continue safely thanks to the timely and professional response of the NPA/RENEW team.
Hundreds of EOD Tasks Each Year
The case in Dong Ha is just one example of the hundreds of spot tasks carried out by NPA/RENEW teams every year. From January to mid-September 2025 alone, EOD teams have:
-
Conducted 312 EOD call-out tasks based on community reports.
-
Safely removed and destroyed more than 500 items of dangerous explosive ordnance.
These efforts continue to protect the people of Quang Tri, eliminating deadly remnants of war that still threaten communities.
Project RENEW sincerely thanks the Government of the United States, through the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi, and the Government of Norway for their valuable support of this humanitarian mission in Vietnam.
###
