WW2 bomb revealed in drought-hit waters of Italy’s River Po

Rome, Aug. 8 (BNA) Not only have the heat waves that swept Europe this summer, bringing record temperatures and fields fields, the drought-stricken waters of Italy’s Po River are dropping so low that they have revealed a bomb that was previously submerged in the war. Second World.

Military experts defused the 450-kilogram (1,000-pound) bomb and carried out a controlled detonation on Sunday, and it was discovered July 25 near the northern village of Borgo Virgilio, near the city of Mantua, Reuters reported.

“The fishermen found the bomb on the bank of the Po River due to the low water level due to drought,” Colonel Marco Naci said.

The task of removing the bomb was not easy.

The military said about 3,000 people living nearby had been evacuated for the disposal operation. The area’s airspace was closed, and navigation along that stretch of the waterway as well as traffic on the nearby railroad and state road were halted.

“Initially, some residents said they were not going to move, but in the last few days, we think we have convinced everyone,” said Francesco Aporte, mayor of Borgo Virgilio, adding that if people refused to leave, operations would have been persuaded. Stop.

Bomb disposal engineers removed the fuse from the US-manufactured package, which the military said contained 240 kg (530 lb) of explosive.

Then the bomb squad, accompanied by the police, transported the device to a quarry in Midol municipality about 45 kilometers away, where it was destroyed.

Italy declared a state of emergency last month for the areas around the Po River, the country’s longest river. It accounts for nearly a third of Italy’s agricultural production and is experiencing its worst drought in 70 years.

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