During a demining operation.
- French
Navy
The time bomb begins to be defused.
Since the broadcast of a documentary in October 2018, the authorities seem to have taken the problem very seriously.
In the 20th century, millions of tonnes of chemical and conventional weapons were dumped off the coast of Europe after the two world wars.
"I can say, at the end of 2020, that the seabed is safer than in 2019, but there are still a few years before it is completely safe", announced Vice-Admiral Philippe Dutrieux, Maritime Prefect of the Channel and the North Sea, presenting the results of demining operations last year.
More or less long-term damage to nature
Thus, 2020 was a record year for this new "mine war".
A total of 489 historic devices were destroyed along the French coast, or 33,947 kg of TNT equivalent, in order to strengthen the security of the seabed.
But beyond the security aspect, this ammunition also risks causing more or less long-term damage to nature.
Miscellaneous
German WWII mine rescued by boat in English Channel
Lille
Record broken in the neutralization of munitions of war found on beaches and in the sea
Demining
Society
First World War
Second World War