The Italian Armed Forces announced this Friday the discovery of around a dozen World War II bombs, with a total weight close to 500 kilograms, on a stretch of the railway line connecting Rome with Naples, in the south of the country.
The devices were located during works on a segment of the track near the town of Formia, in the province of Latina, within the Lazio region. As a consequence, rail traffic has been interrupted while removal tasks are completed, according to information released by the newspaper "La Repubblica".
Following the discovery, the emergency protocol was immediately activated, which involved the suspension of train traffic between Formia and Minturno and the intervention of the Army's explosives disposal team.
The explosives were found in an excavation trench located under the train track, in an area close to residential zones. The Prefecture of Latina reported the incident and ordered the urgent activation of the 21st Engineer Regiment of Caserta, after the area was secured by the Police.
Explosives disposal specialists have detailed that the devices will be transported overnight in a special vehicle, escorted by law enforcement, to a quarry designated for their temporary storage.