Authorities have cleared a major cache of unexploded World War I munitions above Bitola’s old military barracks, but excavation work continues, with more than 1,000 additional explosives potentially still buried at the site.
Macedonia’s Directorate for Protection and Rescue removed 1,700 hand grenades and rifle grenades dating back to World War I from a site above the old military barracks in Bitola on Thursday.
The explosives were found in the same area where authorities discovered a large stockpile of unexploded munitions last spring, near a residential neighborhood, the directorate said.
Homes Near the Site Were at Risk
Director Stojanče Angelov said the operation has removed a significant danger to nearby homes, located approximately 200 meters from the site.
Excavations are continuing, and authorities expect to uncover more than 1,000 additional grenades, along with other types of unexploded ordnance.
The operation is being carried out by Bitola-based explosives specialist Gjorgi Stefanov, assisted by three retired Interior Ministry personnel. Two previously served in the elite “Tigers” special police unit, while the third served in the ministry’s counterterrorism department. They have been engaged on temporary contracts to help address a shortage of qualified personnel, Angelov said.
Authorities Urge Residents to Call 112
Angelov urged the public not to touch or approach any object that resembles a bomb, grenade or other projectile.
Anyone who discovers a suspicious object should immediately call 112 so that trained specialists can safely handle and remove it.
The discoveries serve as a reminder that unexploded remnants of World War I continue to pose a danger in parts of the Balkans, more than a century after the conflict ended.
