WWII Bomb Washed Ashore, Detonated on Fla. Beach

After a WWII-era M122 photoflash bomb washed ashore St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Sunday morning, authorities responded by closing the beach and detonating the 4-foot cylinder, ABC Action News reports.

According to The Tampa Bay Times, the bomb, which was used in WWII to distract or blind an opponent's sight, was found by a beachgoer at about 8:40 a.m., and authorities were notified.

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According to Pinellas County Sheriff deputies, the barnacle-covered bomb "appeared to have been submerged for a significant period of time."

A 2007 congressional report notes that many weapons, leaked mustard projectiles, and phosgene bombs were disposed in the Gulf of Mexico following WWII in the belief that the pressure and water would absorb the toxins and bury the unwanted material, ABC News reports.

After the Pinellas Country Sheriff's deputies, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office bomb squad and the MacDill Air Force Base's explosive ordnance disposal team arrived at the area, the Pass-a-Grille beach was evacuated and the bomb was detonated just after 5 p.m.

"The intent of the detonation is to completely destroy the device itself," St. Pete Beach Mayor Maria Lowe said.

The Times reports that the bomb was detonated by using C-4, causing a large thud and a thick cloud of black smoke.

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