Rs 98 crore gold bars, coins found while digging sewer, workers says 'our first reaction was actually disbelief'
Construction workers in Belgium have discovered gold worth around Rs 98 crore during renovation work, leaving everyone at the site shocked. The treasure was found in Dendermonde, around 18 miles north of Brussels, while workers were carrying out groundworks to build a sewer system.
According to local police, the workers uncovered a “large quantity of gold” during the excavation. Police later arrived at the site, collected the treasure and moved it to a high-security government vault after it was inventoried.
Police shared pictures showing 49 gold bars placed on a table, along with a bucket filled with gold coins. The total value of the discovery is estimated at around €9 million, or more than Rs 98 crore.
According to People, Kobe, an 18-year-old student and construction worker, told Belgian outlet VRT that the workers were initially unable to believe what they had found.
“Our first reaction was actually disbelief, amazement. We certainly hadn’t expected to find gold,” Kobe said.
He said the workers initially thought they had found ordinary €1 coins. However, they soon realised the discovery was much more valuable after finding a gold nugget.
The site manager, Mario, said the discovery was something he had never experienced in his long career.
“After 33 years in the construction industry, this is the first time I’ve experienced anything like this,” Mario told VRT.
The discovery has now become the subject of an investigation by the East Flanders Public Prosecutor’s Office. Officials are trying to determine where the gold came from and who legally owns it.
“At this moment, it is not known where that gold comes from, nor to whom it legally belongs,” prosecutor Hanne Ollevier told Belgian outlet De Standaard.
The building where the treasure was found is owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a Belgian charity that supports people facing difficulties.
Meanwhile, police have warned people against entering the construction site in search of more treasure. The area is fenced off and contains several dangerous pits.
Police said the gold had already been removed from the site and warned people not to take “irresponsible risks.” They added that they hoped the unexpected discovery would “change the lives of many in a positive way.”