Bomb disposal experts from the Italian Army’s 2nd Engineer Pontieri Regiment in Piacenza successfully defused a 1,000-pound aerial bomb dating back to World War II in the municipality of Pitigliano (Grosseto). The unexploded ordnance was discovered during construction of a viaduct in the “Capannella sul Fiora” area near the SR 74 “Maremmana” highway, during a systematic clearance operation conducted by a specialized private firm.
Given the complexity of the operation, the 2nd Engineer Pontieri Regiment constructed a reinforced earth containment structure (expansion chamber) around the bomb days prior to neutralization. This measure minimized risks of accidental detonation during defusing and halved the required radius of the evacuation zone (“red zone”). Regional, provincial, and municipal roads within the evacuation area were temporarily closed to traffic.
The Army’s bomb disposal team, coordinated by the Prefecture of Grosseto and the Northern Operational Forces Command (COMFOP NORD) in Padua, worked alongside law enforcement, the Fire Brigade, and the Red Cross to ensure the operation’s safety. After safely removing the bomb’s detonators, it was transported to the “Europomice” quarry for final destruction.
2024 Statistics:
In 2024 alone, the 2nd Engineer Pontieri Regiment conducted ~300 clearance operations and destroyed 1,000 explosive devices of varying types and calibers across its 13 provinces of responsibility in Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany:
- Emilia-Romagna: Piacenza, Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena
- Tuscany: Massa-Carrara, Pisa, Lucca, Pistoia, Grosseto, Livorno, Arezzo, Prato, Siena
These efforts underscore the Italian Army’s vital role in safeguarding communities from historical and modern threats.
Source: Italian Army
