– People get a little too close. We understand that people want grandstand space, but we have to refer to designated places on land. In addition, we are expanding the security zone, says task leader Stian Pauschert of the Agder police. Two controlled explosions of old aircraft bombs from the Second World War will be carried out. The water column must have been up to 50 meters in the first blast. But after the first explosion, the police had to take action when they believed the revelers were getting too close. Civilian boats simply came too close. – We are expanding the safety zone from 300 to 600 meters to be safe. We also ask people to keep their distance, says the task leader. Mine divers from the Norwegian Navy were responsible for the destruction of the ammunition at Studevarden east of Flekkerøy in Kristiansand. Both the Coast Guard, air ambulance, police and lifeboat participated in the operation. Over 20 bombs from the Second World War were found at a depth of nine to 20 metres. Found by chance The discovery was made in January this year. When divers from Søgne Dykkerklubb were out hunting for ghost gear, they found over 20 bombs at a depth of only nine to twenty meters a couple of hundred meters from the entrance to Kristiansand. It was suggested that the largest probably weighed around 1,000 kilograms and contained over 500 kilograms of explosives. The discovery was reported to the police, who contacted the Norwegian Armed Forces. The defense then confirmed that they were not aware of the discovery beforehand. Their theory is that the bombs were taken from a warehouse on land and dumped in the sea after the war. – It would have liked to happen in the deepest place, but those who were given the assignment chose to do it as soon as they were out of sight, Orlog captain at the Norwegian Armed Forces’ operational headquarters Wiggo Korsvik previously told news. A little further east is a dumping area, which is 200 meters deep. Korsvik has also previously said that the bombs can affect the ecosystem, because the steel will gradually rust away and toxic substances from the ammunition will flow into the sea. Wiggo Korsvik is a naval captain at the Norwegian Armed Forces’ operational headquarters. Photo: Oliver Rønning / news
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