In the east of Hondurasa group of soldiers were carrying out a routine mission, when they suddenly came across a strange element.
After the arrival of specialists to the place, it was found that it was a powerful bomba of origin Russianwhich would have been in the power of the Sandinista Government when it was fighting against a rebel group.
Finally, the military made a decision to prevent the device from being activated and causing damage to the population.
«High power» explosive device: the unexpected discovery of the military
In San Andrés de Bocay, a Honduran community that belongs to the department of Olancho and is located on the border that separates the country from Nicaragua, military of the Armed Forces found a dangerous object.
Personnel from the Sixteenth Infantry Battalion, under the orders of the Military Environmental Protection Detachment, were carrying out patrols aimed at protecting natural resources when, among the weeds, they found a «high power» explosive deviceas reported in X by the FF spokesperson. AA., Captain Mario Rivera.
After the discovery, as a preventive measure, the military secured the area and arranged for the arrival of explosives specialists, who, upon arriving at the scene, determined that the element was a Russian-made RBK-250 cluster bomb, of 250 pounds and 30 anti-tank submunitions.
According to preliminary estimates by the Forces, this device could have remained in the sector since the decade 1980so its origin would have taken place in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
The Army did not explain how the explosive arrived at the site, nor to whom it might have belonged.
However, it is believed that it may have been part of the help that the USSR provided to the Nicaraguan Army in its fight against the «Contra», Nicaraguan armed organizations that fought against the Sandinista Government and that had operations centers in areas near the border with Honduras.
What did they do with the bomb? The measure that avoided «severe damage»
After the discovery, to avoid damage to the population, the Ammunition and Explosives Destruction Team of The Armed Forces carried out the detonation of the bomb.
According to spokesperson Rivera, «having exploded in the area, would have caused «severe damage in an effective radius of action of several tens of meters».
These types of devices are prohibited by an international treaty due to their lethality, as they store hundreds of small projectiles that can be dispersed in areas equivalent to several football fields.
In addition to their power when fired from airplanes or on the ground, cluster bombs represent a threat because submunitions that do not explode on impact remain active for years as antipersonnel mines.
In fact, Several Hondurans have died in the east of their own country, after stepping on mines crops left by the «Contras», who received assistance at the El Aguacate military base, Olancho, among other logistical support facilities.
After the episode, the FF. AA. of Honduras reaffirm their commitment to guarantee security in the area, preventing possible incidents and safeguarding the integrity of the population.
With information from agencies.
