Construction workers renovating a house in eastern Flanders, Belgium, made an astonishing discovery. They found gold bars and coins worth an estimated €9 million (£7.6 million) hidden behind cellar walls.
The builders were drilling into the foundations to lay new sewage pipes when they stumbled upon the hidden trove. One of them was Kobe, an 18-year-old student working a summer job. At first, Kobe thought he was looking at ordinary one-euro coins. Then he spotted a gold nugget and realized the true scale of the treasure.
Instead of keeping the discovery for themselves, the workers immediately alerted the local police. Site manager Mario explained that keeping the hoard would amount to theft. Kobe agreed, noting that such a massive fortune could never be kept secret.
The property is currently owned by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a local welfare support charity in the city of Dendermonde. Geert Hillaert, director of the charity, expressed surprise and hoped that the treasure might eventually help fund the organization's daily work supporting people in need.
Police have moved all the gold to a secure location and warned the public not to trespass on the active construction site. Under Belgian law, a rightful owner has up to five years to claim the stash. If no owner comes forward and the gold is not linked to criminal activity, civil law dictates that the treasure will be split between the finders and the property owner.