Plans for the clean-up work are becoming increasingly concrete: the ammunition depot at Mitholz is being cleared

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

There is still danger lurking in the depths. In December 1947, major explosions occurred in the former army ammunition depot near Mitholz in the Bernese Oberland. The depot partially collapsed and several people died from boulders thrown into the air. Dozens of houses were destroyed and several hundred tons of explosives were left in the rubble.

Now the plans for the clean-up work are becoming more and more concrete. On Thursday evening, Defense (VBS) informed the local population about the status of the project and the first measures.

Only a fraction has been investigated so far

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Mine Clearance Command (Kamir) is conducting exploratory excavations in the former railway tunnel, which led to the ammunition depot and was buried. In the first year of this investigation, approximately 7,300 ammunition objects weighing 14 tons and approximately 18.5 tons of small arms ammunition were recovered, the DDBS said.

The detonators of the objects recovered so far were in a good state of safety. This is good news for a safe evacuation. However, it must be taken into account that this is a few percent of the expected 1,500 tons of usable ammunition.

‘Great’ uncertainties remained, the VBS wrote. These could only be cleared after the railway tunnel was opened from 2032. According to DDBS, the exploratory excavations will last until spring 2024. They would provide “valuable” information on the location, quantity and condition of the buried ammunition.

The risk of falling rocks must be reduced

In order to commence work in the area of ​​potentially large ammunition stockpiles, the explosion risk must be reduced to an acceptable level. There is a great danger of falling rocks in the railway tunnel and falling rocks can cause explosions. To prevent this, local chipping measures are taken in the railway tunnel.

In addition, the existing measuring and alarm system is supplemented with additional sensors. According to the DDPS, these measures serve to protect the affected population and road users on nearby roads and trains.

To implement the stone chip protection measures, part of the town of Mitholz had to be temporarily evacuated. Eleven people from five buildings are affected and are not allowed to be in their homes at night during the week between late June and mid-September. This is because the VBS wants to work outside peak hours.

The DDPS assumes that there are still 3,500 gross tons of ammunition remains, containers and scrap in the mountain. Last September, the Federal Council approved a loan of 2.59 billion francs to clear the ammunition depot. (SDA)

Source:Blick