ZAGREB, August 19, 2019 – Commemorative events, including a requiem mass in the local cathedral, were held on Sunday in the Istrian town of Pula to mark the 73rd anniversary of the incident when the explosion of undersea mines and nine tonnes of explosive killed 116 and wounded 216 residents on Pula’s beach called Vergarola.
On 18 August 1946, the ordnance, which had been swept from the water and were piled up on the crowded beach awaiting disposal exploded killing tens of swimmers and visitors. Vergarola was the popular bathing site for local Italians.
The causes of the accident were never established. According to one theory, the piled ordnance was actually self-activated by chance, however, the other theory is that the ammunition was deliberately exploded by person or persons unknown.
More Pula news can be found in the Lifestyle section.
