Forni Glacier, three WWI artillery projectiles re-emerge: Army EOD specialists intervene at 2,600 meters

Three artillery projectiles dating back to World War I were found on the Forni Glacier, in Upper Valtellina, at over 2,600 meters altitude. The projectiles were neutralized by EOD specialists from the 10° Reggimento Genio Guastatori of the Italian Army, a unit of the 132ª Brigata corazzata "Ariete".

The ordnances were identified in recent days by some hikers in the territory of Valfurva, in the province of Sondrio. Following the report, the clearance procedure was activated and completed on September 2nd.

Two 75 mm projectiles and one 120 mm

The specialists from the Genio, who arrived from Cremona, reached the discovery site working in a particularly challenging environment due to altitude and terrain characteristics.

The inspections made it possible to identify three artillery projectiles from the Great War: two 75 mm caliber and one 120 mm caliber.

Given the usual presence of hikers on the glacier, the area involved in the operation was temporarily closed off to allow the EOD specialists to work safely.

The ordnances were subsequently transferred to a suitable area nearby and neutralized according to established procedures.

A medical unit from the Italian Red Cross and the Alpine Rescue Unit of the Guardia di Finanza also provided support to the operations.

One hundred operations and 365 ordnances since the beginning of 2026

The one on the Forni Glacier is just one of the numerous occasional clearance operations carried out by the 10° Reggimento Genio Guastatori.

Since the beginning of 2026, the unit has already completed 100 operations, during which a total of 365 unexploded ordnances have been found.

A figure that testifies to how the problem of unexploded ordnance remains current, especially in areas that were directly affected by combat during the two world wars.

In the mountains, the progressive retreat of glaciers and snowfields can also bring to light materials that remained hidden for decades. Precisely in the Stelvio and Upper Valtellina area in recent years, several operations have been carried out for unexploded Great War ordnance that re-emerged as glacier conditions changed.

Unexploded ordnance still dangerous

The passage of time does not automatically make an ordnance harmless.

Artillery projectiles, bombs, and other unexploded ordnance can retain part of their explosive capacity even after many decades, while deterioration of components can make their behavior unpredictable.

In case of discovery, it is therefore essential not to touch or move the object, to leave the area, and to immediately report the presence of the possible ordnance to Law Enforcement.

The occasional clearance of unexploded ordnance on national territory represents one of the specialized activities carried out by EOD specialists of the Italian Army to protect the population.