Saint Leonard, Maryland Suspected military ordnance that washed up on a Maryland shore prompted a multi-agency response. The canister, marked with a military label, was discovered near a Calvert Beach boat ramp
The potential explosive find led to police, firefighters and a Navy EOD team being called to the scene after the U.S. Coast Guard requested that Naval Air Station Patuxent EOD examine and dispose of the object.
Point Magu, California A 1950s era bazooka round washed up on a public beach prompted a response from the local bomb squad and the EOD unit based at Point Mugu Naval Base. The responding units decided to destroy the round in place which was directly in front of lifeguard tower 14. The beach was temporary closed during the response.
A social media post by the bomb squad described the response - "The Sheriff's Bomb Squad and Navy EOD unit examined the ordnance and determined the Super Bazooka round still contained live explosives and was too dangerous to transport."
Dunbar, Scotland A WWII munition discovered on a beach in East Lothian has been safely detonated by an Army EOD team on Belhaven Beach in Dunbar. The find prompted the Dunbar Coastguard to issue a warning to the public that ordnance "occasionally" washes up or is uncovered on beaches from the war and that they still pose a "significant likelihood" of being dangerous.
The warning came in the form of a social media post where the coastguard shared a video of the ordnance being detonated on the beach by the EOD team.
The post also included a photo of around a dozen UXO found on Belhaven Beach in a week's time. A spokesperson said, "A warning to all those that use our beaches around Dunbar. We occasionally receive reports of ordnance washed up or uncovered on our local beaches, usually stemming from the WWII era."
"Whilst it may look harmless, please be advised there is a significant likelihood that it could still present a danger. For example, today a series of controlled explosions were needed at Belhaven due to live WWII-era ordnance being discovered."
Nantucket, Massachusetts Several WWII-era rockets were discovered on a popular Nantucket beach, resulting in a multi-agency response. According to the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad was called out to reports of UXO found buried in an eroding sand dune.
Selsey, England Police cordoned off portions of Medmerry Beach in Selsey after suspected UXO was found on the shoreline. Sussex Police said it responded to assess "items believed to be smoke signals and small munition fragments."
Two controlled explosions were carried out to dispose of the ordnance and the beach was reopened according to the Selsey Coastguard.
North Berwick, Scotland Police and HM Coastguard teams responded to a beach west of North Berwick after Antanas Milcius noticed what appeared to be ordnance on the shore. Based on his past military and police experience, he realized the potential risk to the public.
"I phoned the police, sent them pictures" Milcius said. He was concerned that "it was getting dark and the tide was coming in," but police were on the scene within 10 minutes, he said.
A portion of the beach was closed while awaiting British Army EOD to arrive the next morning. They identified the munition as a 25 lb air-dropped practice bomb and disposed it through a controlled detonation shortly after.
There were no injuries and the beach reopened soon after the EOD demo operation.
Dartmouth, England A Coastguard team and the bomb squad were called to a beach in Dartmouth after a suspicious device was found. The munition washed ashore on Strete Gate beach, prompting the Dartmouth Coastguard Rescue Team to set up a cordon while Royal Navy EOD from Plymouth responded.
The unidentified ordnance was destroyed through remote detonation. According to the coastguard rescue team, it was the second ordnance callout in less than a week.
South Devon, England The Dartmouth Coastguard Rescue Team responded to Hallsands beach for a reported suspect ordnance. A cordon was established around the anti-tank mine, while awaiting arrival of a Royal Navy EOD team from Plymouth.
Thermal camera images were used to confirm that the cordoned area was indeed clear of people, so EOD could dispose of the UXO through a controlled explosion. According to officials, the loud detonation proved that the mine was a live device.
The Coastguard issued a reminder that if you find ordnance on the coast, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard, try to get a detailed location and remain a safe distance from it.
Lennox Head Beach, Australia Police were called to Lennox Head Beach to reports of a UXO that washed ashore. Officials from the Richmond Police District Rescue Squad secured the area, and the Australian Defence Force responded to detonate the marine location marker through a controlled explosion.
Officials took the opportunity to remind the public that if potential ordnance is found, leave the suspected item in place and contact local police immediately.
Chichester, England Selsey Coastguard was called to Medmerry Beach following reports of a suspicious object. The coastguard team photographed the object and sent the pictures to EOD.
The item was declared safe and not ordnance, however the EOD team did carry out a controlled explosion on another item, before lifting the cordon.
Medmerry Beach is notorious for ordnance finds and has been called the "UK's most dangerous beach" by national media due to the frequency of explosive finds in the area.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
