A 150 kg World War II underwater mine, which was found in June in a port in Croatia, was destroyed on Sunday in an operation which required the evacuation of hundreds of inhabitants, said local civil protection.
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This mine, laid by German forces more than 80 years ago, was unearthed by chance 50 meters deep in the port of Rijeka (north), during construction work. The machine was partially covered by the sands of the seabed.
The destruction operation on Sunday led to traffic in the area being stopped and 500 residents evacuated as a precaution.
It was carried out by divers from the Croatian police and soldiers who towed the mine to bring it to the surface and then destroyed it, noted an AFP photographer.