Army Bomb Disposal Experts Defuse WWII Bomb in the Province of Cremona

A team of bomb disposal experts from the Italian Army recently completed an important operation to defuse a wartime bomb dating back to the Second World War. The aerial bomb, weighing approximately 227 kg and containing 120 kg of high-explosive material, was discovered during the expansion works of the Codogno-Mantova railway line in the municipality of Tornata, in the province of Cremona.

The specialists from the 10th Engineer Regiment Sappers of Cremona promptly intervened, once again demonstrating their professionalism and expertise. The bomb, despite being buried for decades, was in excellent condition and still posed an active threat.

The bomb disposal operations were carried out thanks to the synergy between all the institutional parties involved, under the direction and coordination of the Prefecture of Cremona. To ensure safety during the removal procedures of the detonation systems, extraordinary measures were taken: road traffic was halted on provincial roads SP31 and SP77, as well as on adjacent municipal roads within a radius of over 800 meters from the discovery area. Additionally, traffic on the Codogno-Mantova railway line and the affected airspace was temporarily suspended.

Once defused, the bomb was transferred to the quarry of Nuova Demi in the municipality of Genivolta (CR), escorted by the Police Forces. Here, the bomb disposal experts proceeded with a controlled detonation, permanently eliminating the threat.

The bomb disposal experts of the Italian Army are constantly engaged in the clearance of explosive ordnance throughout the national territory. In 2023 alone, the bomb disposal units of the engineer regiments conducted 2,356 interventions, neutralizing a total of 12,666 wartime remnants, including 21 aerial bombs dating back to the world conflicts. The intervention in Tornata is just one of the many examples of their essential work for the country's safety, once again demonstrating the effectiveness and dedication of the Armed Forces in managing emergency situations related to wartime remnants.