Dolomites glaciers reveal 200 dormant World War I bombs

More than 200 unexploded munitions have surfaced in the Italian Dolomites as glaciers continue to shrink. The Italian army located the weapons in September, a discovery that follows a larger collection of ordnance found during the summer melt. These items include artillery shells and hand grenades used by Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces during the First World War.

Military officials described the situation as a resurfacing of history and danger. In a statement, they noted that as ice retreats, the mountains continue to yield explosives from the Great War more than a century later. The army is deploying troops to clear these areas to remove hidden risks from the terrain.

The initial reports of these weapons came from hikers in the summer. Sights were concentrated around Canal San Bovo in the Primiero Valley within the eastern Trentino region. Following these reports, the military expanded searches across high-altitude zones in Trentino-Alto Adige where snow and ice are receding.

Recent operations have targeted specific high-elevation sites. Work is currently focused on Carè Alto and Vedretta di Lares in the Adamello-Brenta region near Trento. Teams are also active in Val Martello and the Stelvio area in Bolzano. Additional munitions were recovered at Cima Tre Cannoni and along the edges of the Livrio glacier.

The conflict known as the White War was fought between 1915 and 1918 in the freezing, rugged peaks of the region. Troops dug into defensive positions and endured extreme cold while navigating snow-covered slopes. The high-altitude nature of the fighting left equipment scattered across the glaciers.

Army officials stated that clearing these zones requires technical expertise due to the steep slopes and melting conditions. The goal is to make trails safer for the mountaineers, hikers, and tourists who visit the area annually. They emphasized that these complex operations are essential for eliminating hidden dangers.

The military noted that the risks associated with these explosives are not always immediately visible. Officials indicated that the danger tends to increase as the altitude rises. The retreat of glaciers is exposing remnants of the conflict that have remained frozen for over a hundred years.