Construction workers have found a huge treasure trove of gold bars, rare coins and other valuables, worth an estimated €9 million, while digging a sewer line in Belgium.
The treasure was discovered by 18-year-old Kobe, a summer temporary worker, during routine work replacing underground pipes in Saint-Gilles-Dendermonde, about 30 kilometres northwest of Brussels. He discovered the treasure while digging with his colleagues on Tuesday.
According to Belgian media, the worker said he suddenly noticed something lying in the ground. At first he thought it was a one-euro coin, but later he saw a gold bar and it turned out to be much larger than expected.
According to the report, the treasure included gold coins, gold nuggets and gold bars. The treasure was packed in a bag that was hidden inside a brick wall of an old mansion.
The mansion was built in the late 19th century. Authorities secured the scene immediately after the treasure was found and moved all the valuables to a safe in Brussels, and investigators are now determining the true and legal ownership of the treasure.
Under Belgian law, a person who discovers a treasure must wait at least five years to see if the original owner or his legal heirs are present.
On the other hand, Kobe, 18, admitted that the workers knew that if they found such a large amount of treasure, it would be necessary to hand it over to the authorities. However, he expressed hope that in the future they could receive some kind of reward for the discovery.
