On Friday, April 10, 2026, around 11 a.m., two walkers made a rather unexpected discovery at the Rouland dam in Equeurdreville-Hainneville (a town in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Manche).
As they walked along the site, they spotted a cylindrical object partially sticking out of the ground. The appearance of this object immediately raised caution: it could be a German concrete shell from World War II, but for now, there is nothing to confirm this hypothesis.
The local authorities quickly secured the area and set up barriers around the discovery point to prevent public access. The bomb disposal unit has been informed and will soon intervene to remove the metallic object with a diameter of 10-12 cm.
Although rare, this type of discovery serves as a reminder that the Cherbourg territory still bears traces of the 1939-1945 conflict. In case of encountering a suspicious object resembling an explosive device, it is crucial not to touch it and immediately alert the authorities, regardless of its appearance or presumed age.
Even after several decades, these munitions can remain active and pose a real danger to the population. War devices are regularly discovered throughout the country: shells, bombs, grenades, cartridges, and handling them is strongly discouraged.
Residents are urged to exercise utmost caution during their walks or work near sites that may have been affected during the war.
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