Europe's Wildfires Unearth Deadly WWI and WWII Bombs

Europe's summer wildfires have revealed a dangerous legacy of past conflicts: unexploded bombs and mines from World War I and II buried beneath the soil. As flames consume vast areas, these dormant weapons are being unearthed and, in some cases, detonated by the intense heat.

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Climate change is now doing the work of unburying and reactivating what was previously stable.

Explosions have been reported in France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, where bomb-disposal teams have been called to sites threatened by the fires. In France, a massive wildfire near Bordeaux uncovered a cache of suspected World War II ammunition. Belgian officials noted sporadic detonations in a fire area, though no fire crews were reported in danger.

Experts warn that climate change is intensifying this threat. Sarah Njeri, a peace and conflict scholar, explained that "climate change is now doing the work of unburying and reactivating what was previously stable." The fires not only ignite old munitions but also burn away the vegetation that conceals them. This year's fire season was fueled by heavy rains earlier in the year, which promoted vegetation growth that became tinder for the subsequent heat, drought, and winds.

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a few sporadic detonations

The fires are burning over former battlefields, including areas like the High Fens in Belgium, a site of intense fighting during World War II's Battle of the Bulge. Local historian Bernard Collard noted that "When you go into a forest like this, you are not sure where the explosives are," recalling instances where found bombs were detonated. The lingering presence of these buried weapons serves as a lethal reminder of past wars, now made more perilous by a changing climate.

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When you go into a forest like this, you are not sure where the explosives are.