World War I and II explosives discovered in Bieszczady and Dolomites

Unexploded ordnance from both World Wars has been discovered in the Bieszczady Mountains of Poland and the Dolomites in Italy.

In the Lesko district of Poland, a tourist located a heavily corroded hand grenade and an anti-tank mine near Roztoki Górne. Local police and Border Guard officers secured the site until military sappers could arrive to neutralize the threats. Authorities have warned that these items, often referred to as “rusty death,” remain highly unstable due to corrosion.

In Italy, melting glaciers in the Dolomites are revealing hundreds of World War I explosives. During a summer clearing campaign in the Trentino-Alto Adige region, military engineers and local authorities removed over 250 charges. In the Primiero valley alone, specialists recovered 55 items in a single week, including 18 artillery shells. Operations also took place in protected areas such as the Adamello-Brenta and Stelvio national parks. Experts urge the public to never touch such objects and to report findings immediately to the police or military.