Possible Naval Explosive Device Washes Ashore On Florida Beach

KEY POINTS

A naval mine was seen along the shore of a beach in South Florida on Sunday
The device is believed to have been used for military training and might have been live at one point
The explosive device is now in the custody of the U.S. Air Force for further examination

Authorities surrounded a beach in South Florida after a naval mine was discovered in the area.

A naval mine was reportedly washed ashore near Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Sunday. The section of the beach where the explosive device was found was closed to the public for several hours as authorities investigated the object. The naval mine is an explosive device typically used to damage other ships or submarines.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad closed a section of the beach after a deputy on patrol reportedly found the “possible explosive training device” at around 2:30 a.m, Sun-Sentinel reported.

WPLG journalist Parker Branton also took to Twitter to report the incident.

"#BREAKING — Apparent naval mine has washed ashore in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. BSO on the scene with bomb squad on the way to check the device out," Branton tweeted.

#BREAKING — Apparent naval mine has washed ashore in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. BSO on scene with bomb squad on the way to check the device out. pic.twitter.com/7oATCTqvjs
— Parker Branton (@ParkerBranton) April 4, 2021

The bomb squad examined the device, which had the word "INERT" written on its side. The explosive is believed to have been used for military training and might have been live at one point.

After a few hours of investigation by the bomb squad, the naval mine was removed from the site at around 10:45 a.m. by the U.S. Air Force.

Throughout the course of the investigation, no evacuations were ordered in the area near the 4600 block of El Mar Drive, and the section of the beach was later reopened, according to CNN.

The naval mine is currently in the custody of the U.S. Air Force for further investigation and examination, as per WPLG. No further information was released.

The discovered explosive device is believed to be a sea mine. The first naval mine was invented by David Bushnell in 1776 and consisted of a wooden keg filled with gunpowder and fitted with a primitive contact fuse.

Sea mines, according to the National Academies Press, provide offensive and defensive capabilities and have played a significant role during the two world wars. By the end of World War II, sea mines have proven their efficiency by successfully sinking one ship for every 35 mines laid.