Dusseldorf. The construction crisis also influences the discovery of explosive ordnance. The ravages of time sometimes make old bombs even more dangerous.
The number of discovered World War II bombs has recently tended to decline in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is particularly polluted. The corona pandemic and the weak construction sector played a role. However, according to government estimates, the recovery and defusing of unexploded bombs combined with extensive cordoning off and evacuations of buildings remains a task for a long time. Also interesting:Unexploded bombs: That’s why defusing must be done quickly
According to the ministry, 167 World War II bombs weighing at least 50 kilograms were discovered across the country in 2023. That is almost a third less than in 2022, when 239 unexploded bombs were found across the country. Five bombs had to be detonated in a controlled manner at the site in 2023 because the detonator posed a particular danger.
Fewer unexploded bombs discovered in North Rhine-Westphalia – it has to do with the construction economy
The ministry attributes the decline in bomb discoveries primarily to lower construction activity. The explosive ordnance disposal experts are often active in house and road construction. The experts find 70 percent of the bombs before construction companies take action. For this purpose, aerial photos from the war period and other documents on the property would be evaluated. A systematic search is then carried out for unexploded bombs. During the broadband expansion, among other things, workers came across ordnance in the ground.
Also read: Aerial bombs in North Rhine-Westphalia: This is how experts search for unexploded bombs
“Anyone who thinks that the men and women involved in explosive ordnance disposal will soon have nothing left to do is mistaken. The deadly legacy will still concern our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The heavy bombs in particular will repeatedly ensure that people have to leave their homes for a short time to be evacuated,” explained Interior Minister Herbert Reul (CDU).
A lot of ordnance had to be exploded
Including smaller bombs as well as grenades, mines, hand grenades, ammunition and other explosive devices, the experts removed a good 4,800 ordnance in 2023. While a total of 443 explosions were necessary on site for safety reasons in 2022, in 2023, almost twice as many, 839 explosive devices, were detonated on site because, according to experts, they were not transportable. These mainly included hand grenades. Also read: Over 400,000 bombs on Gelsenkirchen: The risk areas
In 2019, 307 World War II bombs weighing at least 50 kilograms were defused in North Rhine-Westphalia. As a result of the corona pandemic, the number fell to 197 cases in 2020 because the authorities temporarily limited active searches in order to avoid large evacuations. In 2021, the number of bomb defusals rose to 278. A year later, the slowdown in the construction industry played a role in the decline to 239 cases.
The ravages of time make old bombs even more dangerous
The number of building permits for new apartments fell significantly by more than a quarter to around 43,600 in NRW in 2023, as the State Statistical Office announced in March. The figures include approvals for apartments in new buildings as well as conversions. Although the building permits say nothing about how many apartments were actually built, they are considered an indicator of construction activity. Also read: Unexploded bomb exploded in Essen: blast wave damages houses
If objects similar to ammunition are found, the Ministry of the Interior emphasizes on its overview page for explosive ordnance disposal on the Internet that special caution is required. The regulatory authorities, fire brigade or police must be informed immediately. Finds should be left at the location. Touching or even examining suspicious objects could have life-threatening consequences. Weapons do not become less dangerous over time. Age and corrosion effects could increase the danger.
(dpa)