Czech military secures contaminated site in Šumava

The Czech military has begun engineering and chemical surveys in a contaminated area within the former Zhůří military zone in the Šumava region. The site contains approximately 1,000 tons of contaminated soil and 200 barrels of hazardous chemicals, including mercury, arsenic, dioxins, furans, and chlorinated solvents. The army is currently working to build access roads and isolate the area to prevent further seepage into the soil.

Environment Minister Igor Červený has expanded a criminal complaint against several unknown perpetrators regarding the contamination. The investigation, handled by the Prague 10 District Public Prosecutor's Office, aims to determine how the area became contaminated and whether former ministry officials neglected their duties. Previous investigations focused on public endangerment and environmental damage caused by negligence.

The remediation process is expected to cost over 150 million CZK and is projected to continue until June 2028. Following the current isolation efforts, a contractor will be selected to perform the full decontamination and disposal of the hazardous substances.