A young person from Kukum Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Solomon Islands died on Sunday, May 9th in a tragic bomb blast at Lengakiki Heights, West Honiara, when a 105mm U.S. projectile remaining from World War II (WWII) exploded unexpectedly.
The twenty-nine year old Kukum youth leader, Raziv Hilly, died from his injuries after being rushed to the National Referral Hospital. Two others remain in the hospital in critical condition, and one sustained minor injuries.
Reports stated that four young people were cooking food on a wood fire for a fundraiser when the incident occurred, unaware that the heat from the fire would trigger the bomb.
According to Solomon Star, Mr. Hilly was from Vella La Vella and Ranoggah in the Western Province and was a qualified aviation engineer and property manager.
Tributes have flowed in across social media, remembering Mr. Hilly for his bright smile and cheerful spirit, his dedication to youth ministry, and his service to God. The government Ministry of Aviation and Communication also expressed their sincere condolences.
According to RNZ News, large areas of the Solomon Islands are littered with debris from WWII, including many unexploded bombs that continue to kill and maim locals, even 75 years later.
The incident follows the death of two people in Honiara last September due to another explosion.
This article was originally published on the website of Adventist Record