Wildfires expose — and detonate — buried bombs and mines from WWI and WWII
- Wildfires in Europe have uncovered buried World War I and II munitions, posing risks to firefighting crews.
- Explosions of old munitions have been reported in France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands due to the heat of the fires.
- Climate change has contributed to conditions that allow these buried explosives to become active again.
- Belgium's Ministry of Defense receives weekly requests to assist in disarming explosives, with over 3,000 calls a year related to unexploded ordnance.
- The High Fens area in Belgium, known for its historical battles, is particularly at risk due to recent wildfires.
Wildfires burning across Europe have exposed a potentially deadly threat from World War I and II munitions that threaten firefighting crews. Some of these weapons have exploded due to the intense heat of the fires, with incidents reported in France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.
The fires, fueled by climate change, have shown that the continent's climate stability is deteriorating, allowing previously stable buried explosives to become active. This wildfire season was intensified by heavy rains in January that promoted vegetation growth, which later became kindling in the summer heat.
In Belgium, the Ministry of Defense receives frequent requests for assistance in disarming explosives, with over 3,000 calls annually related to unexploded ordnance. The High Fens area, known for its historical battles, is particularly at risk as wildfires move over territory with a legacy of buried munitions.
野火暴露并引爆一战和二战埋藏的炸弹和地雷
横扫欧洲的野火暴露了来自一战和二战的潜在致命威胁，这些军火威胁着灭火队伍。一些武器因火灾的高温而爆炸，法国、比利时、德国和荷兰均有报告。
这些火灾因气候变化而加剧，显示出大陆气候稳定性正在恶化，使得以前稳定的埋藏炸药重新活跃。此次野火季节因一月的暴雨促进了植被生长，随后在夏季高温中成为了引火物。
在比利时，国防部频繁接到关于排除炸药的请求，每年与未爆弹药相关的电话超过3000个。高沼泽地区因其历史战役而闻名，近期的野火使其特别面临风险。