HUNDREDS OF WORLD WAR II SHELLS FOUND IN THE SEA

THESSALONIKI, OCTOBER 7 /SRNA/ - Hundreds of shells and other projectiles dating back to World War II were discovered during a survey of the seabed in the port of Thessaloniki, Greek broadcaster ERT News reported.

The ammunition was found in an area designated for the planned expansion of the sixth pier at the port of Thessaloniki.

There are believed to be around 80 bombs weighing more than 50 kilograms that were located during a magnetic survey of the seabed.

The bombs are believed to have been dumped into the sea by German troops during their rapid withdrawal from Thessaloniki as the Red Army advanced through the Balkans in October 1944, Kathimerini reports.

Construction work on the concrete elements of the pier is currently scheduled to begin in March 2027. The seabed must be cleared by then so that work on the port expansion can proceed on schedule.

Local authorities have asked the Greek government to support further surveys and the safe disposal of the ammunition.