World War-era ammunition explodes in Europe due to forest fires

Wildfires in Europe have created an additional threat to firefighters from unexploded ordnance from World Wars I and II, with reports of old bombs and mines exploding in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

This is reported by the Associated Press .

The high temperatures during wildfires can cause explosives to detonate, which can remain in the ground for decades. This is why bomb disposal experts are sometimes sent to areas where the fire could spread to known ammunition dumps.

In some cases, potential danger areas can be identified in advance because they are known to be areas where unexploded ordnance remains.

In particular, near Bordeaux, France, there are still World War II munitions buried there. In the Belgian province of Liege, several explosions were recently heard, and photos were also released of a firefighter working with a rusty bomb.

The forests of this region were bombed and munitions were left behind during World War II. In the first 4 years after Germany’s surrender in 1945, 6 civilians were killed by these munitions.

This year, fires have also broken out near major World War II battlefields, along the Elsenborn Ridge and in the Hürtgen Forest. The fighting there lasted 88 days and resulted in the deaths of about 33,000 American and 28,000 German soldiers.

The situation remains particularly difficult in Belgium, where the country’s Ministry of Defense said it receives requests for assistance in disposing of explosive devices in areas linked to past wars, approximately every week.

Every year, the Belgian Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service responds to more than 3,000 calls, disposing of 200 to 250 tons of ammunition left over from the First and Second World Wars.

Recall that this summer in Italy, forest fires destroyed about 70 thousand hectares of land . This is approximately the area of 100 thousand football fields and more than double the average for the last 20 years.

Earlier it was reported that large-scale forest fires in France and Spain forced the authorities to evacuate more than 220 thousand people and introduce emergency measures . Spain declared a state of emergency for the first time due to the fires, and France turned to the European Union for help. Subsequently, the countries began preparing financial support programs for the regions affected by large-scale forest fires , which have not subsided for more than a week. Despite the fact that the centers of ignition have not yet been completely localized, the governments of both countries are already working on assistance mechanisms.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , X , Telegram , and Instagram.