Alarm has been raised in Thessaloniki following the discovery of approximately 1,000 bombs on the seabed of the city’s port. The bombs, each weighing 50 kilograms and dating back to World War II, were found at the port’s 6th pier, where expansion works are currently underway. According to Star, their combined weight is estimated to reach 20,000 tonnes.
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WWII bombs discovered at Thessaloniki port
According to Star’s report, the bombs are not currently posing a problem for the ongoing construction works. However, when dredging operations begin in March to allow larger vessels to access the port, the bombs will need to be removed.
For this reason, the management of the Thessaloniki Port Authority (ThPA) is urgently calling on the State for assistance with the collection of the bombs. Specialized units of the Greek Armed Forces will need to be involved — potentially in cooperation with private contractors — in order to complete the process safely and as quickly as possible.
How the bombs were discovered in Thessaloniki
A magnetic survey was carried out across the body of the 6th pier, which led to the detection of the bombs. The most likely explanation is that German forces dumped the bombs into the sea during their withdrawal from Thessaloniki in 1944.
