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A walk with risk: In a forest area near Dietershan there has been a ban on leaving the paths for years – the reason for this is explosive contaminated sites.
Fulda – For five years now, a cordoned-off forest area between Marbach and Dietershan has been causing questions among walkers and residents. There are warning signs there that read: “Attention! Leaving the paths is prohibited! Danger of explosion.” The background is the discovery of combat ordnance from the Second World War.
Because of World War ammunition: forest near Dietershan closed
The signs were put up in spring 2021. There is still a ban on entry in the area today. It is unclear how long the closure will remain in place. The explosive ordnance disposal service of the state of Hesse, which is located at the Darmstadt regional council, is responsible for clearing the area.
The authorities deliberately do not provide any information about the exact locations or possible danger situations. HessenForst explains: “Reporting with concrete information about the situation could increase the attention and interest of the public and should be assessed critically for security-related reasons.”
According to HessenForst, the measures are based on concrete findings. “The assessment of the risk and the measures derived from it are based on the find itself and the subsequent assessment by the responsible explosive ordnance disposal service,” the authority said. That's why the signage became necessary.
The authorities also do not comment specifically on the size of the affected area. If explosive ordnance is found, “a larger security area is set up around the site as a precaution until a threat can be ruled out,” says HessenForst. More precise information could make it easier to locate the locations.
It is unclear when the explosive ordnance disposal service could be released
The ban on entry continues to apply until clearance from the explosive ordnance disposal service. It is currently unclear when this might take place. The Darmstadt regional council emphasizes that warning signs and usage restrictions are not put up without cause. Such measures are “always based on concrete findings – for example through discoveries or expert assessments of suspected areas”.
Responsibility for barriers and area management lies with the respective property owner or their representative. In the affected area this is HessenForst. The explosive ordnance disposal service provides primarily technical support, for example in the assessment of suspected areas and specific finds.
The authorities also do not want to provide any information about the type and extent of possible explosive devices or the frequency of other discoveries. The background is concern about “undesirable activities in the affected areas”.
The regional council therefore urges caution: “Warning and prohibition signs are always based on real risk assessments and must be taken seriously.” Since complete control of the large forest area is hardly possible, “observance by the population is an essential part of danger prevention”.
During construction work by Deutsche Bahn, a World War II bomb was discovered in Gelnhausen and successfully defused. 600 people would have to temporarily leave their homes.
