In 2023, the federal army’s mine clearance service was deployed 1,075 times to recover and destroy war relics. This involved a total of 51,292 kilograms of war material of various kinds: the specialists neutralized, among other things, 27.2 tons of infantry ammunition, 275 hand grenades, 17 rocket-propelled grenades and 45 unexploded aerial bombs.
The areas of application are diverse: they include water bodies as well as forest areas, cities and alpine terrain. The diving group of the Mine Clearance Service (EMD) has recovered 90.7 kilograms of war material from the water. In high Alpine terrain – especially in the Austrian-Italian border area – the Alpine Group transported 40.8 kilograms of ammunition from the First World War.
19 tons of war material blown up
The EMD destroyed 19.1 tons of war material through explosions at the Federal Army blast sites. About six tons of infantry ammunition were annealed in a special furnace and the resulting ammunition scrap was recycled. About 6.7 tons of war scrap was sent directly for final disposal, the ministry announced on Sunday.
What was a challenge for the specialists was that 31 times they encountered ammunition that was not safe to handle and could not be transported safely. These parts had to be destroyed on the spot by blowing them up. 125.9 kilograms of war material was neutralized.
Most missions in Lower Austria
Last year, most missions were completed in Lower Austria, where 13.9 tons of war materials were removed in 480 missions. Behind this is Styria with 23.2 tons in 155 operations, followed by Upper Austria with around 6.4 tons in 145 operations. In Burgenland, approximately 780 kilograms were neutralized in 75 missions, followed by Vienna with five tons in 72 missions. In Carinthia the EMD removed 309 kilograms in 59 missions, in Tyrol 1.2 tons in 47 missions, and in Salzburg approximately 255 kilograms in 35 missions. Vorarlberg comes last with seven missions and 226 kilos of war material recovered.
Handling ammunition is extremely dangerous for unauthorized persons, the Ministry of Defense warns. If a suspicious object is found, keep your distance, prevent people or animals from getting too close to the find and contact the nearest police station immediately. Employees of the mine clearance service of the federal army are then called in to defuse the war relic and transport it away safely.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
