Controlled explosion sounds on BBC's Save our Sounds

If you haven't been to BBC's Save our Sounds map, you should visit the site right now, and I'm not just saying this because they uploaded sounds from our field trip. You can click on pretty much any country in the world to listen to sounds that people have added. It's addictive.


To hear what a (controlled) detonation of landmines and explosive remnants of war sounds like, go to the map and click on the sound icon in west Cambodia. This sound was recorded while the artists were visiting CMAC's demining activities in Battambang.


Here's what's happening:

After everyone has exited the field and is standing at a safe distance (500 meters per the Cambodian Mine Action Standards), a CMAC deminer calls out on a loudspeaker in all directions to tell anyone who may still be out there to clear the field. Next, he sound an alarm, shouts “Moy, Pea, Buy!” [1, 2, 3 in Khmer], and finally there is a deafening BOOM!!!



The destroyed items were found and removed from the 20 hectare minefield being cleared. Once all of the land is cleared, 36 families will be able to safely use it for farming purposes.


You can also submit sounds you've recorded.


Go now!