Hungarian sappers clear WWII explosives from Danube in Budapest

Hungarian Defence Forces sappers removed a cache of explosive material discovered in the Danube near the Raoul Wallenberg quay and the Budapest University of Technology. The haul included a Soviet 203 mm anti‑tank grenade from World War II, a probable 19th‑century cannonball, and a German WWII ammunition container holding eight Panzerfaust launchers with warheads and detonators.

Because the Soviet grenade was heavily corroded, it could not be defused on site and was transported under police escort to a designated demolition area where it will be destroyed together with the other ordnance. Temporary closures were imposed on the Freedom Bridge, nearby quays, university buildings and a gas station; all restrictions were lifted after the operation. Low water levels in the Danube, caused by extreme heat and lack of rain, exposed the historic munitions and other WWII wreckage.