The 450kg (71 stone) bomb found near the northern village of Borgo Virgilio – between Milan and Bologna – was safe on Sunday. About 3,000 people were evacuated and nearby roads, rail lines and airspace were closed as military experts removed security. Police escorted the bomb squad to a quarry 30 miles away in Medole, where the device was detonated. Read more: Almost half of EU countries suffer from drought The military said the US bomb contained 240 kilograms (38 stone) of explosives. “At first some of the residents said they wouldn’t move, but in the last few days we think we’ve convinced them all,” said the mayor of Borgo Virgilio, Francesco Aporti. The bomb was found by fishermen on the banks of the Pa River – Italy’s largest river – on July 25. Image: Parts of the Po River have dried up A state of emergency was declared around the river last month as it endures the worst drought in 70 years and heatwave conditions. The Po helps to irrigate crops and accounts for about a third of agricultural production in Italy, but water levels have dropped significantly. Italy’s National Research Council says 2022 is so far the driest since records began in the 1800s, with rainfall down 46% nationwide – and the north is the hardest hit.
