Two bomb disposal experts from Britain and Australia died in the Solomon Islands when World War II ordnance they were helping to clear exploded, officials said Monday.

Police said the blast took place on Sunday in the Solomon Islands' capital Honiara and the two foreign nationals died after being taken to hospital.

The charity Norwegian People's Aid, which is collating a database of unexploded ordnance in the Solomons, confirmed two of its workers were killed.

It named them as British citizen Stephen "Luke" Atkinson and Australian citizen Trent Lee.

AFP