Drying Rhine River Exposes Dangerous WWII Ammunition
The Rhine's water level has dropped to critical lows due to a prolonged drought, exposing dangerous WWII-era munitions and tons of debris. German authorities are urging the public to stay away from the riverbed.
A traveler walking along the banks of the Rhine in Germany late at night discovered a rare and dangerous item: a phosphorus grenade dating back to the Second World War. As the water level dropped, the munition was exposed to the air, triggering a chemical reaction between the phosphorus and oxygen that caused it to smoke.
The incident occurred on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday in the Kornsand area of Trebur, in the state of Hesse. According to German media reports, the chemical reaction ignited the grenade. The traveler alerted the police, who summoned a bomb disposal unit. The sappers neutralized the munition on-site and removed it; no injuries were reported.
The incident comes as the Rhine experiences unusually low water levels due to a prolonged drought. Such discoveries are becoming increasingly frequent, with infantry ammunition found near Lampertheim just two weeks prior.
1.5 Tons of Waste
The situation is similar further downstream. In the North Rhine-Westphalia region, large quantities of scrap metal and wartime artifacts have surfaced.
In Cologne, experts neutralized an American bomb weighing approximately 250 kg. Earlier, near Niederkassel, between Cologne and Bonn, a German bomb designed for underwater use was discovered; authorities believe the Wehrmacht may have intended to use it to destroy a bridge. In Düsseldorf, volunteers also found remnants of an anti-aircraft shell and leaking oil barrels.
The receding water has also exposed abnormal amounts of waste. Local cleanup initiatives have reported large tires, barrels, bicycles, electric scooters, and ship ropes. During one operation in Düsseldorf, 35 volunteers collected over 1.5 tons of waste, while in Cologne, approximately 20 electric scooters and 17 bicycles have been recovered in recent weeks.
Police Warning: Do Not Approach
Following the discovery of the phosphorus grenade, police warned that as long as the Rhine remains at low levels, more WWII-era remnants could be exposed.
"If you discover such an object, notify the police immediately and keep your distance," the statement read.
Bonn authorities issued a similar warning, urging the public to avoid walking on dry, unpaved sections of the riverbed. Officials emphasized that munitions left in the field for decades remain life-threatening and that any suspicious object should be reported to the police, fire department, or local authorities.
