European Wildfires Uncover Lethal Hidden Bombs from WWI and WWII
Published on
22/08/2026 – 14:14 GMT+2
Recent European wildfires this summer have unearthed a dangerous new hazard—unexploded ordnance from World War I and World War II.
Across western Europe, massive fires have scorched vast terrains as the continent endures extreme heat and persistent drought. Firefights have forced responders to battle not only the flames but also the concealed risk of exploding shells.
Detonations reported in France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
“Climate change is accelerating the exhumation of former conflicts,” said Sarah Njeri, a peace and conflict scholar at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies. She warned that higher temperatures are playing a role in releasing buried weapons.
A fire near Bordeaux, southwest France, uncovered a cache of items believed to be World War II‑era ammunition.
In the Belgian province of Liège, mayor Hervé Jamar stated that emergency services are adapting to unexpected impacts—a few sporadic detonations have been heard since the High Fens area experienced a particularly fierce fire.
The High Fens stretch across the French‑German border and recall the 1944 German Offensive of the Battle of the Bulge. On 16 December 1944, German forces attempted a major advance that gained initial successes before faltering as Allied reinforcements arrived.
Widespread droughts have stirred up dormant military artifacts, with receding waterways revealing German warships, a Wehrmacht motorbike, and other relics.
Researcher Christina Greene of the University of Arizona emphasized, “the legacy of war continues to resurface” as climate change pushes ancient weaponry back into the landscape.
Additional sources
• AP
