WWII Bomb Diffused in Athens Suburb

A WWII-era bomb found during works in the Athens suburb of Glyfada was diffused on Thursday morning.

The Land Mine Clearance Battalion (TENX) conducted a special operation at the location of the discovery. Reports say that the 226 kg (500 lb) bomb was defused using thermite and without the need for an explosion.

Traffic was blocked off on both sides of Poseidonos Avenue, spanning from Vergoti Square to Alimos Avenue. Evryalis Street in Glyfada was also impacted by this.

As a safety measure, a parking ban was imposed on the aforementioned streets. Commuters were advised to plan their travels accordingly and take the adjusted bus, KTEL, and tram routes into consideration.

TENX has been present in this area of Athens for the past two days, making necessary preparations for the bomb disposal operation.

The mayor of Glyfada, Giorgos Papanikolaou, warned that more WWII bombs could be discovered as the works continue at Hellinikon, the former airport of Athens which is being transformed into one of the largest metropolitan parks in Europe.

Other Discoveries of World War II-Era Bombs in Greece

In 2020, another bomb from World War II was discovered on the eastern Aegean island of Samos, leading to the successful defusing of the explosive. Prior to the controlled detonation, authorities had carried out the evacuation of numerous homes and schools.

During World War II, Samos initially fell under the occupation of Mussolini’s Italian troops. However, following the Italian army’s surrender in 1943, Nazi Germany intervened, subjecting the island to severe bombardment by the Luftwaffe before the eventual liberation by Greek resistance forces in 1944.

In 2017, the World War II bomb discovered in the Kordelio suburb of Thessaloniki was safely extracted from the area and later relocated to an army shooting range for a controlled explosion. After defusing the 250-kilogram bomb, specialists carried out a successful controlled detonation.

The WWII bomb was one of many that the British Air Force dropped on December 5, 1943, as part of an operation to hit German structures in Thessaloniki. Approximately 500 individuals lost their lives as a result of the bombing.

Missing Submarine Found in Aegean Sea

In 2023, a team led by Kostas Thoktaridis discovered the long-lost HMS Triumph of the British Royal Navy in the Aegean Sea. The submarine had been missing since 1942, with sixty-four submariners on board.

The submerged wreckage, found at a depth of 203 meters, has reignited efforts to unravel the mystery surrounding its sinking. According to Thoktaridis, the search for the HMS TRIUMPH began in 1998. He emphasized that it was the most challenging and costliest undertaking he has ever been a part of.