Washing ashore on New Year’s Eve, a World War II-era practice bomb appeared on a California beach following dangerously high waves that posed a threat to much of the state’s coastline during the holiday weekend.
Responding to a call at Pajaro Dunes, between Santa Cruz and Monterey, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office bomb team arrived around 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, December 31. According to spokesperson Ashley Keehn, bomb team technicians identified an ordnance item that is presumed to be a practice bomb.
Due to its size and deteriorated condition, the Travis Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called in to assess the bomb, as mentioned by Keehn to USA TODAY.
Following an on-site visual inspection and an X-ray scan, technicians confirmed that the bomb was inactive and devoid of explosives, according to an Air Force public affairs spokesperson.
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Confirmed as a U.S. World War II-era Navy practice bomb, the item was deemed safe after inspection by the Air Force spokesperson. Following this determination, the bomb was removed from the beach and is now secured with the Travis Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
“Every few years, we will see military ordnances wash up. We occasionally see sea flares uncovered,” Keehn said. “This ordnance washing up on shore goes to show the intensity of the high surf we saw in Santa Cruz County this past week.”
Unexploded military ordnance, including grenades, rockets, and bombs, is discovered worldwide, and these devices can be hazardous if disturbed or removed.
Authorities emphasize the importance of caution, advising individuals to leave the area carefully if they encounter anything resembling unexploded ordnance and promptly report the discovery. In various regions, incidents involving such devices continue to pose a threat, resulting in fatalities.
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After World War II, both the United States and Japan left behind thousands of unexploded bombs. Every year, researchers believe that more than 20 people are either killed or seriously injured when these bombs accidentally detonate, as reported by the Honolulu Civil Beat in 2022.
The U.S. has allocated millions of dollars to aid other countries in clearing unexploded ordnance. This includes almost $7 million invested in the clearance of such munitions and local training programs in the Solomon Islands, as the Honolulu Civil Beat reported.
The New Year’s Eve finding occurred during hazardous sea conditions, with powerful swells affecting California’s central and southern coasts. Alerts for high surf and coastal flooding were issued through New Year’s Day due to a storm system moving into the state. This was reported by the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
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Forecasters cautioned about waves potentially reaching 20 feet, urging residents in coastal communities to steer clear of beaches due to life-threatening conditions. Videos circulated on social media depicting the waves crashing on the coast, causing damage to roads and vehicles.
In Ventura, California, fire personnel conducted at least eight rescues as high surf led to flooding in certain areas. Fortunately, there were no reports of life-threatening injuries, according to Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath.
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