An unexploded wartime bomb found this weekend was safely removed from downtown Hanoi on November 29 evening, local media reported.

An unexploded bomb weighing about 340kg was found at a construction site in Hanoi. Photo: VnExpress

On November 28, workers found the bomb of about 340 kilograms buried two meters underground at the construction site for the headquarters of Power Transmission Corporation No.1 at No.15 Cua Bac street.

As the bomb was too big, the disposal must involve the Ministry of National Defense, Chairman of the Ba Dinh district People’s Committee Ta Nam Chien said, quoting the Hanoi Capital High Command.

“Relevant agencies have been probing the scene before settling on a procedure to unearth and handle the ordnance," Mr. Chien added.

The intact bomb was buried two meters underground at the construction site of offices of Power Transmission Corporation No.1.

An excavator dug and lifted the bomb, which is around a meter long and has a 35 centimeter diameter, above the ground. Local police soon cordoned off a 100-meter long section of Cua Bac street to prevent vehicles and people from entering the area.

This is the second large bomb to be found in Hanoi in the last six months. In June, a 1.6-meter-long bomb was salvaged from the Red river near the historic Long Bien bridge four days after it was discovered.

Hanoi was under heavy air raids from 1965-1972 by the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. In particular, during just one fortnight (December 18-30) in 1972, 36,000 tons of bombs were dropped on the city.