Construction Workers Discover WWII-Era Explosive At Port Of Long Beach, Halting Operations

Operations at one of the six container terminals at the Port of Long Beach were temporarily suspended on Wednesday, 8 October, after a construction crew uncovered a World War II‑era explosive device buried beneath the ground.

A spokesperson for the Port of Long Beach said the discovery was made at Pier G, at the southern edge of the port. The shell, believed to be around 80 years old, was found during routine construction work, prompting immediate action by port authorities.

The Long Beach Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad, Long Beach Fire Department, and the U.S. Coast Guard quickly responded to the scene. The terminal was evacuated and a safety perimeter was set up while the device was examined.

After the initial check, the bomb squad requested assistance from a U.S. Marine Corps ordnance disposal unit. The Marine team determined that the device could be safely transported and subsequently removed it from the site for off‑site deactivation.

The port said operations at Pier G were suspended during the incident but resumed by 9 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Other container terminals at the port continued to operate without disruption throughout the emergency.

Port officials noted that this was not the first time Pier G had faced operational interruptions in recent weeks. Last month, a separate incident involved dozens of containers falling overboard from a cargo ship, with an estimated 75 containers lost, containing goods such as electronics, clothing, furniture, and footwear. At least 60 containers were later recovered, though the cause of the spill is still under investigation.

References: latimes, ktla

Source: Maritime Shipping News