Retreating glaciers in Italy expose over 200 World War I bombs

More than 200 unexploded munitions surfaced in the Italian Dolomites as summer heat melted the glaciers that had buried them for decades. The Italian army confirmed the discovery in September and has since sent troops to clear the high-altitude terrain. The recovered items include artillery shells and hand grenades left behind by Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces during the First World War.

The conflicts fought between 1915 and 1918, known locally as the White War, involved troops entrenched in freezing conditions on steep slopes. Many weapons were dropped or abandoned during the fighting and remained trapped in the ice. As the glaciers retreat, these dormant hazards are emerging on trails used by hikers and mountaineers.

Army officials described the removal process as technically demanding. "As the ice retreats, history resurfaces, and with it, dangers from the past," the army stated. "More than a century later, the mountains continue to yield unexploded ordnance from the Great War." The operations require specialized equipment to handle explosives in steep, icy environments.

Sighting reports from hikers prompted the initial searches, with many incidents noted around Canal San Bovo in the Primiero Valley. Subsequent sweeps expanded to several regions in Trentino-Alto Adige. Specific sites where munitions were found include the Carè Alto and Vedretta di Lares areas in the Adamello-Brenta region, as well as Val Martello and the Stelvio area in Bolzano. Additional explosives were located at Cima Tre Cannoni and along the edges of the Livrio glacier.

The army noted that the danger is not always visible and increases with altitude. Officials emphasized that clearing these zones eliminates hidden risks for the thousands of visitors who traverse the area each year. The work aims to make the mountain environment safer for mountaineers, hikers, and tourists.

Climate change is accelerating the melt rate of the Dolomites glaciers. Army officials expect that as more ice disappears, additional remnants of the White War will come to light. This ongoing exposure means that search and clear operations will likely continue across the region.