Thursday, 27 February 2014 - 09:16
Kruisland prepares for bomb detonation
After weeks of preparation, D-day has finally come for the gigantic V-1 bomb found in Kruisland in January.
On Thursday afternoon, the bomb will be detonated in a controlled environment. The surroundings around the bomb, in a 600 meter radius, has been hermetically sealed, Omroep Brabant reports.
The powerful airplane bomb was found at the end of January on a plot of land in Kruisland. "I'll be relieved when the bomb is exploded" a local resident said.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) will let the bomb explode under controlled circumstances Thursday between four and six in the afternoon.
The police has been patrolling the area this morning to check peoples' homes if anybody is still there. According to a resident, they are strenuously checking 14 homes with an infrared camera. Residents have been told to leave the area and go to a community house the Siemburg, where they have to stay the whole day.
"I think it's exciting. It's a whole operation" a resident tells.
The EOD has been busy since 7 a.m. Thursday morning with the activities. The EOD has covered the WWII relic with a mound of dirt to control the air pressure effects of the explosion. The explosion of a V1 is only allowed during daylight hours.
Until the time of the explosion, the area around the bomb has been restricted. On Wednesday, diggers laid the last heap of sand on top of the eight-meter high mound. The mound of 5000 cubic meters and eight meters high must catch up the gigantic explosion, which will be 930 kg explosives. According to Defense, it will be comparable to an aircraft going through the sound barrier.
Omroep Brabant have this video showing preparations in Kruisland:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr8woSir1A4