Greek army experts on Thursday destroyed an unexploded World War II bomb discovered during work on an urban development project in a coastal area south of Athens.
Authorities said the bomb, which weighed more than 200 kilograms, was destroyed without explosion after traffic was blocked for more than two hours and several apartments were evacuated as a precaution.
“Everything went well and we thank all parties involved: the specialized army unit, the fire brigade and the traffic police,” said Glyfada mayor Giorgos Papanikolaou.
“As excavations continue, more war materials may be discovered,” he added.
The urban development project includes a park, shopping centers, hotels, a casino and several leisure facilities near the coastal area of Glyfada, south of Athens.
The works, which started last year, should be completed in 2026.
The project will use land previously belonging to Athens International Airport, which was closed in 2001 and transferred to a new location.
The lands were used for decades to support a U.S. military base that closed in the early 1990s, hosting sports venues during the 2004 Olympics and asylum camps during the 2015-2016 refugee crisis.
During the Second World War and the German occupation, the airport was bombed by the Allies.
Source: DN
