WWII munitions and equipment, like these shown in a village near Honiara in 2005, are regularly found in the Solomon Islands, which were the site of fierce fighting between Allied and Japanese forces. HONIARA: Two bomb disposal experts from Britain and Australia died in the Solomon Islands when World War II ordnance they were helping to clear exploded, officials said on Monday .
"Our main priority now is to offer assistance to relatives and colleagues, and to clarify what has happened."NPA said its activities in the Solomons had been temporarily suspended while the"devastating" blast was investigated. The Solomons were the site of fierce fighting between Allied and Japanese forces in World War II and when the conflict ended they abandoned vast quantities of shells, landmines and other munitions.
The charity said on its website that the Solomons remained heavily contaminated by unexploded munitions, which not only posed an explosion risk but had also often degraded after 75 years, leaching harmful chemicals into the environment.
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