State Office for Nuclear Safety: No chemical weapons found at former military site

Exploratory work by the clean-up company Dekonta at a former military training area in the Klatovy region did not find any substances historically used as chemical weapons, such as mustard gas or sarin, the State Office for Nuclear Safety said in response to public concern.

Environment Minister Igor Červený on Monday announced that around 1,000 tonnes of contaminated soil and 200 barrels containing hazardous chemicals, including dioxins, furans, mercury and arsenic, had been found at the former Dobrá Voda military site. He accused the previous Environment Ministry leadership of failing to act.

Former Environment Minister Petr Hladík of the Christian Democrats said he had been informed in 2023 about the collapse of a bunker roof and the subsequent clean-up commissioned by Šumava National Park. He said he had not been told that any further action was needed.

An extensive clean-up operation of the site is due to begin in the autumn.