Increase in Ordnance Disposal Operations - Weapons withdrawal count has risen significantly
Germany's Lower Saxony Records Rise in Unexploded Ordnance Clearances
Specialists at the Lower Saxony Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service have been busy due to increased construction activities, with a marked increase in unexploded ordnance clearance in the region. According to the Ministry of Interior in Hannover, approximately 221 tons of World War-era ordnance were removed from the soil in 1,216 operations last year, compared to around 164 tons in 1,023 operations in the preceding period.
These heightened efforts are attributed to the discovery of more unexploded ordnance due to a road construction modernization offensive. "We still have a significant amount of World War-era unexploded ordnance in the soil of Lower Saxony," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior remarked.
Interestingly, 23 tons of non-transportable ordnance were discovered in the North Sea last year, nearly double the quantities from the previous year. This uptick is due to the expansion of infrastructure in the North Sea. 77 operations required the ordnance to be detonated on-site, compared to 23 cases the year prior.
Minister of the Interior, Daniela Behrens (SPD), stressed the importance of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service in ensuring safety, considering the continued presence of dangerous Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Lower Saxony. She commended the team's expertise and dedication, noting that they reliably locate and render safe potential explosive devices daily.
Notably, the annual report mentions repeated findings of phosphorus incendiary bombs in Lower Saxony. These devices, when contacted, release white phosphorus that can ignite spontaneously and burn at extremely high temperatures, producing harmful smoke.
In 2023, a farmer in the Diepholz district discovered an incendiary bomb while plowing his field, resulting in smoke development. The incident prompted a response from the fire department, who alerted the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service. The team recovered the bomb and the phosphorus. A similar incident occurred in Hannover, where a phosphorus incendiary bomb on a demolition site developed smoke, causing injuries to firefighters and police officers who attempted to cover it with sand until the disposal experts arrived.
While the specific figures for 2024 are unavailable, these incidents underscore the importance of ongoing clearance efforts for public safety. Germany maintains a robust system for managing UXOs, including public awareness campaigns and specialized teams for clearance, coordinating closely with local authorities and international partners.
The Community policy on public safety should emphasize the importance of adhering to guidelines during construction activities to minimize the risks associated with unexploded ordnance, as demonstrated in Lower Saxony.
The Employment policy should consider hiring more specialists in environmental science, particularly in medical-conditions related to health-and-wellness, to address the increasing number of phosphorus incendiary bombs found in Lower Saxony and other regions, ensuring the safety of the community and response teams.
