Europe is experiencing heatwaves this summer that brought record-breaking temperatures, causing Italy's River Po to run out of water, revealing previously submerged items. Science Times previously reported that a 160-foot shipwreck used in World War II became visible when river water levels dropped so low.
Reuters reported that on July 25, another artifact from World War II appeared when a group of fishermen unexpectedly discovered the American-made bomb near the northern Italian village of Borgo Virgilio.
(Photo : Adam Berry/Getty Images)
A digger carries an unexploded 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) bomb from World War II after its deactivation on April 20, 2018, in Berlin, Germany.
Extreme Drought Reveals Unexploded WWII Bomb
Army official Colonel Marco Nasi told Reuters that fishermen on the banks of the depleted River Po found the 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) bomb, which appeared to have been submerged for more than 70 years. A large section of the 400-mile (650-kilometer) river has dried up in the country's worst drought ever in seven decades.
The unexploded bomb is said to contain 530-pound (240-kilogram) of explosives. About 3,000 residents near the area were asked to evacuate the area on Aug. 7, so the military could carry out a controlled explosion.
Local Mayor Francesco Apori said that some inhabitants were initially hesitant to move, but luckily they persuaded everyone to evacuate in the last few days.
According to BBC News, the airspace and river traffic on the waterway of the area was also shut down for a brief time during the controlled explosion. There were no injuries or casualties reported afterward.
Unusually hot weather and low rainfall levels have caused the river to dry up and reveal some historical artifacts never been seen before.
River Po is the longest river in Italy, but annual satellite images reveal the expanding patches of dried-up riverbeds following the extreme drought.
A digger carries an unexploded 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) bomb from World War II after its deactivation on April 20, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.
ALSO READ: Sriracha Shortage: Drought and Weather Changes Could Cause Scarcity of the Favorite Hot Sauce
Northern Hemisphere Hit With Extreme Heat Waves
The Italian government declared a state of emergency last month in the area surrounding River Po, which irritates one-third of the agricultural production of the country. The lack of rainfall and extreme heat in recent months caused salty seawater to seep into the river and destroy crops, the farmers in Po Valley said.
Science Alert reported that the Northern Hemisphere has experienced extreme heat waves predicted to become common in the coming years as climate change worsens. Rome reported its highest temperature at 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.5 Celsius) last June.
Rome's Tiber River dried up so much that the ruins of an ancient bridge from the reign of Emperor Nero between CE 54 to 68 became visible on the riverbed. Experts said that the bridge only becomes visible during long periods of drought, such as in this year's case.
The state of emergency announced by the Italian government has nothing to do with the bomb. Instead, it was because of the record-breaking heat waves and drought across the country.
RELATED ARTICLE: Po River in Italy Faces Worst Drought in 70 Years Makes 160-Foot Submerged Zibello Shipwreck Visible in the Surface
Check out more news and information on Climate Change in Science Times.
