According to a report by CNN on October 28th, due to glacier melting, a large number of unexploded ordnance from World War I has been found on the Dolomites in Italy. The Italian military has processed approximately 250 such items during cleaning operations over the past few months.
The first discovery of an unexploded ordnance this year was in June. At that time, a driver forgot to release the handbrake while parking near Caldo Nadora, causing the car to roll down the canyon. When firefighters were dealing with the accident, they found a 90mm mortar shell under a tree. The date on the shell indicated that it was manufactured during World War I. Professional explosive disposal experts then handled the shell.
The government of the Trentino-Alto Adige region in Italy has stated that the snowfall in winter 2025 will be low, and there will be extreme heatwaves in summer 2026. These conditions are leading to accelerated melting of glaciers in the Trentino region. As a result, more and more hikers, trekkers, and workers will come into contact with unexploded ammunition on the Dolomites Mountains this year.
Italian soldiers dealing with unexploded ammunition CNN
During World War I, after Italy joined the Allied forces, it engaged in a series of battles with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the Alps region from 1915 to 1918. This period is known as the "White War." The Dolomites were one of the main battlefields at that time. Today, they are a popular summer destination for hikers, and many newly discovered unexploded ammunition remnants can be found near popular hiking trails.
The Italian military revealed that since early August this year, experts from the 2nd Battalion of the Julia Alpine Brigade of the Italian Army have been clearing unexploded munitions found on Mount Dolomiti. This unit is specialized in high-altitude rescue and military operations. The clearance operation was completed on October 16th, with a total of approximately 250 such munitions being dealt with.
The government of Trentino-Alto Adige has launched a series of safety awareness campaigns to remind hikers and local residents that if they encounter suspicious ammunition, they should not touch or move it and must report it immediately to the local government authorities.
