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BORGO VIRGILIO — THIS YEAR The heat wave that swept across Europe in the summer of 2019 not only brought record high temperatures and scorched fields, but drought-stricken Italy's Po River was so low that it was formerly devastated by World War II. bombs were found submerged.
Military experts subdued an explosion on Sunday of a 450 kg (1,000 lb) bomb found on July 25 near the north village of Borgo Virgilio, near the city of Mantua. Executed a controlled explosion.
"The bomb was discovered by fishermen on the banks of the Po River due to a drought-induced low water level," said Colonel Marco Nasi.
Removing the bomb was no easy task.
About 3,000 people living nearby were evacuated for demolition work, according to the military. Airspace in the area has been closed and navigation along its waterways, traffic on nearby rail lines and national highways has been halted.
"At first, some of the residents said they would not move, but I think in the last few days we have convinced everyone," said Francesco Aporti, mayor of Borgo Virgilio, saying that if people do move. , he added. Go and the operation would have been stopped.
A bomb disposal technician removed the fuse from a US-made device that the military said contained his 240 kg (530 lb) explosive.
The bomb squad, escorted by police, then transported the device approximately 45 km (30 miles) away to a quarry in Medor City, where it was destroyed.
Italy last month declared a state of emergency for the region around the Po River, the country's longest river. It accounts for about a third of Italy's agricultural production and is experiencing the worst drought in 70 years. (Reporting by Oriana Boselli; Writing by Federico Maccioni; Editing by Frances Kerry)
