A century after the end of WW1, munitions are still being cleared

A century after the end of WW1, munitions are still being cleared
Copyright 
By Jad Salfiti
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

100 years after World War One, bomb clearance specialists are still working meticulously to remove unexploded munitions.

ADVERTISEMENT

An entire century has passed since the end of World War One and bomb disposal experts are still finding munitions sunk in the killing fields of eastern France. 

Every year, up to 50 tonnes of ordnance is collected. 

For Guy Momper, a bomb clearance specialist overseeing the clear-up, it is a painstaking but essential task to protect people, sometimes from themselves.

"We pull them out because there are bound to be people that leave the shells alone and never touch them because they know they are dangerous, but there are also people for whom it is their passion. And if these people know there are shells in a particular place they'll say to themselves 'well I'm going to check it out and maybe bring some back'."

Experts fear it could be 100 more years before they are done digging up left over munitions.

Share this articleComments

You might also like

Paris to erect monument for WWI animals

Europe starts WWI centenary commemorations

Europe travel chaos as Eurostar services cancelled amid flooding