- A cache of unexploded ordnance (UXO), including 80mm mortar shells and scattered ammunition, was found on the seabed in Ierapetra Bay.
- The munitions are spread over a 500-meter area, approximately 150 to 200 meters from the shore, at a shallow depth of 3 to 4 meters.
- The Ierapetra Port Authority has immediately issued restricted access measures for the area and notified specialized military disposal units.
Mortar rounds, ammunition boxes and scattered cartridges were found just 150 to 200 metres from shore, prompting the Ierapetra Port Authority to restrict access to the area,
A quantity of old ammunition has been discovered on the seabed off Ierapetra in southeastern Crete, prompting local authorities to restrict access to the affected area.
The Ierapetra Port Authority was notified on Wednesday afternoon after ammunition was found in the bay of Ierapetra, on both sides of a reef and scattered across an area of approximately 500 metres.
The material lies at a depth of just 3 to 4 metres and between 150 and 200 metres from the shoreline, placing it relatively close to the coast.
Among the items found are mortar rounds in a transport box, believed to be of approximately 80mm calibre, as well as a wooden box thought to have been used to transport cartridges. Additional rounds of various medium calibres and scattered ammunition bundles were also found in the area.
The ammunition is heavily oxidized after spending a prolonged period in the marine environment.
Following the discovery, the Ierapetra Port Authority issued restrictions on movement within the affected section of the sea to prevent access by swimmers, boats, and other vessels.
The relevant authorities have also been notified and are expected to take the necessary steps to assess and manage the ammunition and secure the area.
The discovery does not concern the entire Ierapetra coastline. The restrictions apply to the specific marine area where the ammunition was found.
For visitors and residents using the bay, however, the authorities’ message is straightforward: the restricted area should not be approached until the ammunition has been assessed and any necessary clearance work has been completed.
The discovery comes during the peak summer period, when the shallow waters and coastline around Ierapetra are heavily used by swimmers and small recreational vessels.
