Operations at Labuan Airport were disrupted on Thursday after an unexploded bomb believed to date back to the Second World War was discovered near the airport runway.
The bomb was found at around 3.45pm, approximately 200 metres from the runway in an area belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) near Kerupang. It is the latest in a series of wartime explosives uncovered in the same location, following several similar discoveries on 26 June.
Labuan Police Chief Superintendent Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Zaki said police, together with RMAF personnel, immediately began operations to safely remove the bomb before carrying out a controlled disposal.
He assured the public that the situation remained under control and urged residents not to panic while bomb disposal experts completed the operation.
Police also reminded the public not to spread unverified or false information that could create unnecessary fear or confusion.
The discovery temporarily affected airport operations, with several flights to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Miri experiencing delays. Meanwhile, at least one flight from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan was diverted to Miri as a safety precaution.
Airport operations are expected to fully resume after 8pm, once authorities have confirmed that the affected area is safe.
