MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russian and Swedish specialists have completed the first stage of planned mines sweeps on Bolshoy Tyuters Island in the Finish Gulf, where numerous explosive devices were left during WWII.
"During two weeks of work, which began on the island on August 7, Russian and Swedish specialists have searched 10% of the territory, and de-activated 8,508 shells, mines and aerial bombs," the Russian Emergencies Ministry said. The ministry's mine detection personnel are cooperating with Swedish Rescue Services Agency officials on the searches.
Russian and Swedish bomb experts need to search almost 200,000 square meters of the island, where defense facilities and gun stations were positioned during the World War II, assess the threat and identify areas needing to be swept for explosive devices.
The search is scheduled to end August 31.
