World War II bomb recovered from Greece’s Pamvotida Lake

Divers working on the extensive underwater cleaning of Pamvotida Lake in Ioannina, Greece, retrieved a 1940s artillery shell presumed to be from the Second World War. The ordnance, lodged in the lake’s mud for decades, was reported to police and specialized bomb‑disposal teams, and the site was cordoned off while experts assess and safely neutralise the device.

The discovery occurred during the second phase of the lake‑clearing programme overseen by the Organisation for Natural Environment and Climate Change (OFYPEKA), the operational arm of the Ministry of Environment and Energy. The programme, aimed at restoring the lake’s ecosystem, is scheduled for completion in 2027 and covers a large underwater area spanning several localities.