The Guardia Civil neutralized 68 artillery shells dating back to the Spanish Civil War in Villores, Castellón. Discovered on August 6, the 75-millimeter shells were buried and in poor condition, yet retained their destructive potential. Their reported combined weight was 544 kilograms, about eight kilograms per shell.
The scale of the find kept the Castellón Explosives Disposal Group (Gedex) at work for several days. The final phase ended on August 10, when specialists carried out controlled detonations at the La Torreta quarry. Information from the Guardia Civil, the shells had no fuzes or detonators. The reported explosive charge was trilite, at 345 grams per shell; across 68 rounds, that totals approximately 23.46 kilograms. The total weight of the shells and the weight of their explosive filler are separate measurements.
The find was impressive for the number of munitions recovered in one intervention and the cache's uniformity. In 2024, Gedex teams in Castellón province dealt with 36 war-related devices across multiple sites: 20 artillery shells and 16 grenades, including six mortar grenades and ten hand grenades. The Villores cache alone so contained more artillery shells than the 20 recorded in that provincial comparison for all of 2024.
The discovery reflects the lasting impact of the Civil War on the Els Ports region, which was a frontline during the 1938 Francoist offensive. Morella, the comarca’s capital, remained under Republican control until April 4, 1938. The rapid troop advance and hurried abandonment of munitions left a legacy in the field. Nearly nine decades later, remnants of the conflict can still surface in rural areas. They remain of historical interest and pose safety concerns.
Although the shells lacked fuzes and detonators, the Guardia Civil said they still contained explosive material and remained dangerous. Controlled detonations at the quarry brought the intervention to a close. The case shows why suspicious objects in former conflict zones must be treated as potential explosives: residents should not touch or move them, and should report them to the authorities for specialist assessment.
The Villores operation also illustrates the range of public-safety incidents emergency services handle. In a separate case, an arson attack led to an evacuation at Madrid’s La Vaguada shopping centre; details are available in the La Vaguada evacuation in Madrid.
Spain continues to confront the legacy of its 20th-century conflicts, particularly in areas such as Castellón where frontlines shifted and munitions were left behind. The Guardia Civil advises residents to report suspicious objects and avoid handling them. The Villores cache is a reminder that unexploded ordnance can remain hazardous for generations and requires professional intervention.
