A 450 Kg dating from the Second World War was found in the Po River in the village of Borgo Virgilio near the town of Mantua which is around 160 Km from Milan.
The bomb was discovered on the dry bed of the Po River, Italy’s longest river. Italy has been going through one of its worst droughts in the past 70 years.
A state of emergency has been declared since last month for the districts around the Po, which produces a third of the nation’s agricultural product.
The bomb was discovered by fishermen on the bank of the river as the water had substantially receded.
According to the Italian News Agency ANSA, specialists from the Italian Army pulled out the detonating mechanism in the bomb and safely detonated it in a cave some 45Km away in a controlled setting.
Around 3000 residents of the area were evacuated from the site where the bomb was discovered, the residents started returning home in the afternoon.
Borgo Virgilio mayor Francesco Aporti said, “At first, someone said they would not move, but in the last few days, we think we have convinced everyone.”
