TSMC found a bomb on the territory of the future chip plant

An unexploded rusty bomb was discovered at the construction site of a new TSMC plant near the Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung. The company was forced to evacuate workers from the construction site, and specialists examined and removed the unexpected find.

Image source: TSMC

The contractor’s workers reportedly discovered the bomb on November 11 at the Nanzi Technology Industrial Park. Until 2015, the Kaohsiung Oil Refinery was located here. This area of ​​approximately 674 acres (273 hectares) is now being used by TSMC to build a new manufacturing facility.

Police were immediately called to the scene and a military explosive ordnance disposal team was called in to deal with the problem. The bomb is currently in a warehouse elsewhere. According to TSMC, after specialists examined the bomb, it was determined that it did not pose a threat. Construction work at the site continues as scheduled.

«Regarding the suspected unexploded ordnance discovered during excavations at the TSMC site in Kaohsiung on the morning of November 11, the relevant authorities examined it and concluded that there was no security threat. The item has been removed and construction at the site continues and is on schedule,” TSMC told The Register on Thursday.

This is not the first time explosive objects have been found in the area. About 1,000 pounds (454 kg) of rusty World War II ammunition was discovered there in August. The current bomb is also believed to be a relic from that era. There is no serial number on it, which makes identification difficult.