Kathmandu— Wildfires sweeping across Europe this summer have revealed a hidden and dangerous consequence of past conflicts: unexploded ordnance from World War I and II. Explosions have been reported in multiple countries as intense heat ignites these buried remnants of war, threatening emergency responders and prompting bomb-disposal teams to investigate affected areas. Fueled by climate change and unusually dry conditions, the fires are not only consuming forests but also disturbing a landscape littered with lethal artifacts from decades past.

A Continent’s Buried Legacy

For years, steady temperatures and predictable rainfall helped keep most buried weapons dormant beneath European soil. However, climate change is now disrupting this stability, unearthing and reactivating these long-hidden dangers. This wildfire season was particularly intense due to heavy rains in January that promoted vegetation growth, followed by scorching summer heat and drought conditions – an ideal environment for fires to ignite and spread. As the flames advanced, they moved over former battlefields, triggering buried explosives.

From France to Belgium: Explosions Reported

Wildfires have uncovered wartime ammunition in several countries. In southwestern France, a large blaze near Bordeaux revealed a cache of what is believed to be WWII-era munitions. In eastern Belgium’s Liege province, officials reported sporadic detonations and adapted emergency service protocols to account for buried ordnance, though no fire crews were directly endangered. Bernard Collard, a local historian who runs the Truschbaum Museum, recalls his father detonating a found bomb in a quarry decades ago, highlighting the ever-present risk.

The High Fens Battlefield

The fires are particularly dangerous in areas like the High Fens, a peat-bog forest straddling Belgium and Germany that saw fierce fighting during both World Wars, including the Battle of the Bulge. Collard is authorized to scan former battlefields for unexploded ordnance, regularly finding mortar shells, machine guns, and other relics alongside more somber discoveries like human remains. He emphasizes the need for caution, stating, “You never know what you might come across, and you shouldn’t take it lightly.”

Dwindling Water Levels Expose More Ordnance

The threat extends beyond wildfires. Drought conditions have also caused rivers and lakes to shrink, exposing additional unexploded ordnance. In Slovakia, naval mines were revealed by the receding Danube River, while a WWII-era bomb surfaced at the base of Budapest’s Margaret Bridge in Hungary after water levels dropped. German authorities similarly discovered a WWII bomb as the Rhine River dried up. Researchers note that these events demonstrate how climate change is forcing Europe to confront its wartime past in new and dangerous ways.

Belgium's Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Destruction Service responds to over 3,000 calls annually, disposing of hundreds of tons of munitions from both World Wars, a task that is likely to become more frequent as climate change continues to expose these buried remnants.

(With inputs from AP)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.