Danger from toxic Nazi-era U-boat sank by Britain 80 years ago remains today

Authorities in Norway are working to determine how to address the environmental threat posed by a Nazi-era submarine lying on the seabed after it leaked tons of liquid mercury into the ocean.

The U-864 was torpedoed by a British submarine back in 1945, sinking nearly 150 meters to the seabed near the island of Fedje, according to The Mirror.

The historical battle was actually the only time in World War II history that a submerged submarine successfully sank another, according to the report.

For decades, the rusting wreck has been slowly leaking liquid mercury into the surrounding waters.

A recent robotic mission sent down to investigate discovered that eighty percent of the tested chemical containers had actively leaked into the seabed.

Local fishermen and campaigners have spent years asking authorities to completely raise the wreck to protect marine life.

But government officials now warn that lifting the crumbling submarine is far too dangerous, as moving the fragile hull could cause the remaining metal containers to smash open.

To solve the crisis, coastal authorities are recommending burying the entire submarine and the surrounding seabed under a massive protective seal.

While locals fear the heavy covering could crush the remaining mercury tanks or set off leftover torpedoes, the government is weighing up its options.

The U-864, a German Type IXD2 submarine, was torpedoed by the HMS Venturer near the island of Fedje on February 9, 1945, just three months before the end of Second World War in Europe. The cargo is said to have included about 65–67 tons of metallic mercury, which the Nazi submarine was carrying to Japan.