Potential military ordnances safely removed after being found in river by recreational diver
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A long afternoon for first responders and other personnel after an explosive device was discovered in the river.
Shortly before 2 P.M. on Friday, August 8, 2025, a recreational diver located some potentially old military ordnances underneath the Dillingham Street Bridge in the Chattahoochee River, according to Columbus-Muscogee County Emergency Management Agency and Homeland Security Director Chance Corbett. It is believed to have been dumped at the location many years ago.
As agencies responded and personnel began investigating, the bridge and the riverwalk had been shut down by Columbus Police and Phenix City Police due to the proximity of the ordnances.
The ordnances were safely removed and placed into the back of a bomb squad vehicle following an hours-long attempt to do so by personnel from Fort Benning Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team.
Columbus Fire and EMS crews, along with Georgia Department of Natural Resources, responded to the scene to aid personnel in the investigation and scene.
Since the safe removal of the ordnances, Dillingham Street bridge, as well as the Columbus Riverwalk, have been reopened.
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