Around 200 kilos of explosive devices found in Nussensee lake in Bad Ischl

A ban extended to the entire shore and the trail

The measure was communicated through Facebook, where the authorities urged the population not to approach the area: "Der Uferbereich und der Rundweg dürfen nicht betreten werden. Bringen Sie sich und andere nicht in Gefahr." The same post recalled that the explosive material most likely dates from World War II, as confirmed by mayor Ines Schiller to MeinBezirk OÖ.

On Sunday, the device removal operation began. The bomb disposal service (Entminungsdienst) examined the area, removed the objects and secured the material. At first, according to the mayor, "nur" only some smaller "Sprengstoff-Kapseln" were found in front of the lake. As the inspection progressed, a much larger amount of material came to light: in total, "rund 200 kg Munitions-, Zünd- und Sprengmaterial" were secured, that is, approximately 200 kilos of ammunition, detonators and explosives.

Two TNT charges and World War II detonators

Among the objects removed are two one-kilogram TNT charges, which were also located and secured by the Entminungsdienst. The detonators found are of the Zugzünder type, that is, pull igniters typical of World War II arsenals, which reinforces the hypothesis that these are residues from that conflict abandoned at the bottom of the lake.

The Nussensee is a mountain lake located on the northern slope of the Katergebirge massif, in Bad Ischl. It normally reaches a depth of up to 15 meters, but the drought has reduced it until it is "like a puddle". This loss of water volume exposed areas of the lakebed that are usually submerged, which allowed the casual discovery of war remains that had been hidden under the water for decades.

A lake turned into a puddle by the drought

It is also a very busy area. The Nussensee is a popular walking and hiking spot in Bad Ischl, especially during the summer, when residents and tourists seek refuge in its waters and on the surrounding trails. Precisely because of this high influx of visitors, the district administration decided to extend the initial ban to the entire shore and the circular path, to prevent anyone from accessing an area potentially loaded with explosives.

The information was disseminated by the Austrian Press Agency (APA) dated July 27, 2026, which headlined the alert: "Sperre: Kriegsrelikte im stark ausgetrockneten Nussensee gefunden". The note gathers the account of the events and confirms both the discovery on Saturday night and the start of the cleanup the following day.

Mayor Ines Schiller confirmed to the regional outlet MeinBezirk OÖ that the explosive material presumably comes from World War II and reiterated the call for the population to stay away from the site until the security tasks are completed. "Do not endanger yourselves or others," the mayor warned, in line with the access ban issued by the Bezirkshauptmannschaft Gmunden.

The voice of mayor Ines Schiller

The case highlights a well-known phenomenon in Austria: the residual presence of ammunition from the world wars, especially World War II, in forests, lakes and mountain areas. Every time prolonged drought periods expose lake bottoms or riverbeds, discoveries of this type of material increase, forcing the activation of security protocols and the intervention of specialized Entminungsdienst teams.

On this occasion, the response was swift. The combination of a citizen's report, the immediate reaction of the local authorities and the technical intervention of the disposal service made it possible to contain the threat in a few hours. Even so, as long as the tracking tasks continue, the ban on accessing the shore and the adjacent trail remains in force.

The competent authorities have not detailed the exact schedule for lifting the ban. While the inspection of the bed and banks of the Nussensee is being completed, hikers will have to choose alternative routes and swimmers will have to forget, at least for now, about this lake that under normal conditions attracts numerous visitors during the summer season.

Drought and war debris: a common combination

The episode also takes place within an exceptional meteorological context. The drought that has largely emptied the Nussensee is the same one affecting other bodies of water in the region and in Austria in general, and which has put farmers, water managers and civil protection services on alert. The low level of the lakes has made visible even elements submerged for decades, something which, as in this case, can entail added risks.

Beyond the anecdote, the facts underline the importance of maintaining a preventive culture in the face of suspicious findings. The recommendations of the Austrian authorities in these cases always involve immediately notifying the police or the district administration and not touching or moving any object that could be ammunition or explosive material, a guideline that is once again reinforced after what happened in Bad Ischl.

Recommendation not to touch possible devices

For the time being, the priority at the Nussensee is to guarantee the safety of residents and visitors. The Bad Ischl town hall and the Bezirkshauptmannschaft Gmunden have expressly asked the population to respect the exclusion zone until the Entminungsdienst confirms that the lake and its surroundings are completely free of danger. Only then can one of the most prized enclaves of the Ischl landscape be reopened.