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2 clusters · 21 sources · 3 days · First seen · Last updated

World War I munitions exposure in Italian glaciers

Overview

Accelerated glacier melting in the Dolomites and the Adamello-Brenta massif has exposed an arsenal of World War I explosives that had been buried under ice for over a century. These munitions date back to the White War, a conflict between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces fought in the Alps between 1915 and 1918.

Between August and mid-October, the Italian Army’s Julia Alpine Brigade and the 2nd Alpine Engineering Regiment conducted operations to locate, recover, and neutralize more than 250 explosive artifacts. The recovered items include Italian and Austrian artillery shells of various calibers, hand grenades, and French-made Thevetot mortar bombs.

Experts note that the frequency of these discoveries is increasing due to global warming. As glaciers retreat, these century-old unexploded projectiles become highly unstable and pose a significant risk to hikers and mountain visitors. Military officials stated that such munitions reappear annually as ice melts, and operations are typically conducted during the summer to avoid the dangers of autumn snowfalls.

Entities

Italian Army · Dolomites · Trentino-Alto Adige · Julia Alpine Brigade · Stelvio National Park

Timeline

  1. [INTERNATIONAL] 6 sources
    Italian Army removes 250 World War I explosives from melting glaciers

    The Italian Army neutralized 250 World War I explosives exposed by melting glaciers in the Dolomites, posing risks to hikers in the Trentino-Alto Adige region.

  2. [INTERNATIONAL] 15 sources
    Dolomites glacier melt reveals WWI munitions in Italy

    The Italian Army has recovered and neutralized over 250 World War I explosives revealed by melting glaciers in the Dolomites, a phenomenon experts link to global warming.

Sources

adevarul.ro · cnn.co.jp · cnn.gr · dgabc.com.br · dinheirovivo.pt · eleco.com.ar · internacional.estadao.com.br · kirkinews.gr · misyjne.pl · niezalezna.pl · nova.rs · nypost.com · porandalucialibre.es · somosjujuy.com.ar · tnh1.com.br · tribunadepetropolis.com.br · tvxs.gr · ultimosegundo.ig.com.br · utusan.com.my · veja.abril.com.br · wtxnews.com