Construction crew uncovers gold bars worth over $10 million in Belgium
Workers digging a new sewer system in Dendermonde discovered 49 gold bars and a bucket of coins, prompting police to secure the treasure and launch an investigation into its origin.
Construction workers in Dendermonde, Belgium, uncovered a large cache of gold while excavating a new sewer system. Police said the find included 49 gold bars and a bucket of gold coins, valued at roughly 9 million euros (over $10 million). The haul was photographed by officers before being inventoried and moved to a high-security government vault.
The East Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the source and legal ownership of the gold. Prosecutor Hanne Ollevier told De Standaard that the origin and rightful owners are currently unknown.
"Our first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement," said 18-year-old worker Kobe, who initially thought the items might be ordinary coins.
Authorities warned that the site contains hazardous pits and urged the public to stay away, noting that all of the discovered gold has been removed. The property where the treasure was found is owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, an organization that provides assistance to people in need.