5 Nov 2024

Residents hear explosions - police, NZDF respond to phosphorus canisters on North Shore

10:45 pm on 5 November 2024
Unexplained death in Taita, Lower Hutt early on Sunday 26th January 2020.  A Police cordon and crime scene invetsigation tent were in place Monday 27th January 2020.

Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen

An area on Auckland's North Shore has re-opened after a person found two canisters of phosphorus earlier this evening.

Police said they were called to a Beach Road property in the Murrays Bay area at about 5.30pm.

The road was cordoned off for safety while the cannisters were disposed of at the scene, with the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) explosive disposal team assisting.

According to the NZ Herald , residents reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing a cloud of white smoke as the NZDF controlled the explosion to angle over the beach and into the water.

"A huge boom [was] heard from the beach up to Rangitoto College at 7:20pm," one resident told the Herald.

Police said the cordon has now been fully lifted.

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