Wildfires raging across parts of Europe this summer have uncovered a hidden danger: unexploded bombs and mines dating back to World War I and II. In Belgium, near the town of Elsenborn, fire crews encountered rusted ordnance as flames swept through former battlefields. The region, part of the Ardennes, saw heavy fighting during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944-45.
According to local authorities, the fires have exposed munitions that had lain buried for decades. Bomb disposal teams have been called in to secure the areas before firefighters can safely proceed. In some cases, the heat from the flames has caused old explosives to detonate, posing an additional risk to crews.
Similar incidents have been reported in Germany, where wildfires in the state of Brandenburg, a former military training area, have brought unexploded ordnance to the surface. Experts warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, making such discoveries more likely in the future.
Officials urge the public to report any suspicious metal objects in burned areas and to avoid touching them, as they may still be live. The discoveries highlight the lasting legacy of 20th-century conflicts on European soil.
