ROME: A World War-second bomb was detonated in northern Italy on Sunday, in an operation that found 3,000 people evacuated for security reasons, local media reported. The drought-stricken waters of Italy's River Po are so low they have revealed a previously submerged World War II bomb.
The 450 kilogramme bomb, which was found on July 25 close to the northern village of Borgo Virgilio, close to the city of Mantua, was defused and put under controlled detonation over the weekend by military experts.
"The device was uncovered by fishermen on the bank of the River Po due to a fall in water levels caused by drought." Colonel Marco Nasi said.
The army claims that 3,000 neighbouring residents had to be evacuated before the disposal operation. Navigation on that section of the river, as well as movement on a nearby railway line and state road, were all stopped. The area's airspace was also closed.
Francesco Aporti, the mayor of Borgo Virgilio, said, "At first, some of the residents said they would not leave, but in the last few days, we think we have persuaded everyone." He said that the operation would have been stopped if individuals had refused to leave.
Engineers trained in bomb disposal pulled the fuse from the US-made weapon, which the army claimed held 240kg of explosive.
The device was then moved by the bomb squad and destroyed in a quarry in the nearby municipality of Medole with the assistance of the police.
Italy's longest river, the Po, was the subject of a state of emergency declaration last month. It has the worst drought in 70 years and produces around one-third of Italy's agricultural output.
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