An extraordinarily loud booming sound on Friday morning (10/7/2026) triggered panic among residents in Sumberasri Village, Nglegok District, Blitar Regency. The tremors, felt up to a radius of several kilometers, caused many people to believe that Mount Kelud was erupting.
The residents' panic was understandable given the force of the explosion, which rattled windowpanes and the ground surface. However, the panic quickly subsided after it was learned that the sound originated from the disposal process of an active aerial bomb from World War II.
The dangerous object, measuring 1.5 meters in length and weighing up to 100 kilograms, was previously found buried in the Lahar River stream in Sukorejo District, Blitar City. Given its active status and high explosive power, the police decided to evacuate it to prevent unintended risks.
Blitar City Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Kalfaris Triwijaya Lalo, confirmed that the detonation was carried out by the Bomb Disposal (Jibom) team from Kediri Mobile Brigade (Brimob). The disposal site was chosen in the Mount Kelud Lahar River area, far from residential settlements, to ensure safety during the process.
This disposal process successfully eliminated the threat of war remnants that had been buried underground for decades. Although it briefly caused widespread concern, the situation around the Blitar region returned to a conducive state following the controlled explosion.
