Roughly 400 residents of a Rome community, along with the pope’s summer residence, were evacuated this week to make way for the detonations of two discovered World War II bombs in the lakefront area.
The pontiff’s palace, built in the 17th century, is located at the village of Castel Gandolfo, just outside Rome by about 15 miles. It was closed, and the nearby residents sent packing, so that bomb detonation experts could get rid of the two bombs — one, at 100 pounds and the other, at 130 pounds — that were found along Lake Albano, United Press International reported.
The bombs were still active, and considered dangerous. Air, rail and road traffic was halted during the detonations.
The bombs arrived at the shores during World War II’s Allied invasion, and were believed to have been dropped by British pilots. They only came to light when the water level of the lake receded and exposed them — along with another 4,000 bits of ammunition, UPI said.
The still-active bombs, dropped by British forces during World War II during the Allied invasion of Italy, were discovered in the lake basin after lower water levels exposed them, along with 4,000 other pieces of ammunition, including 2,300 hand grenades, 300 mortar bombs and hundreds of bullets.
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• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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