Wildfires in Europe Unearth Dangers of Buried World War Bombs
Summary
Summer wildfires across Europe have exposed the danger of buried World War-era bombs and landmines, with extreme heat and drought causing old explosives to detonate in several countries. Fire crews and emergency teams in France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and other parts of Europe are facing added risks as climate change worsens fire conditions.
Key Points
- Summer wildfires across Europe have triggered or exposed buried bombs and landmines left from the First and Second World Wars.
- Explosions and fire risks have been reported in France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, including in Belgium’s Liege province and the Netherlands’ Limburg province.
- Experts say extreme heat, drought, low humidity, strong winds and earlier rainfall-driven vegetation growth are intensifying wildfire danger and making old explosives more unstable.
- Belgium still receives thousands of explosive notifications each year, while similar wartime ordnance has resurfaced in Slovakia, Hungary and Germany as water levels fall.
