Explosion at Vargarola: 116 Dead, and the Cause Still Unclear 80 Years Later
An exhibition opens in Pula dedicated to a forgotten tragedy and the doctor who operated for hours unaware that both his sons had been killed.
An exhibition opens in Pula dedicated to a forgotten tragedy and the doctor who operated for hours unaware that both his sons had been killed.
On August 18, 1946, one of the most tragic events in the history of Pula occurred at the city's Vargarola bathing area. According to frequently cited official figures, 116 people were killed and 216 injured in the explosion of underwater mines. However, the exact number of victims cannot be reliably determined to this day, as data vary depending on the source, partly because some bodies could not be identified.
That day, the beach was crowded with people watching the traditional rowing race, the Coppa Scarioni. The explosion occurred around 2 p.m., and its consequences were devastating. A large number of people were killed directly on the beach, among swimmers and spectators of the sporting event.
According to historical documents, the explosion involved 28 underwater mines containing approximately nine tons of explosives. During World War II, the Italian navy had laid mines in the waters off Pula, and after the war, the British navy removed them from the sea. The mines were then stored in the Vargarola area, where their destruction was to be organized.
A special place in the story of Vargarola belongs to Dr. Geppino Micheletti, a physician from Pula who helped treat many of the wounded after the explosion. He continued working and performing surgeries for hours, unaware that his two young sons were among the dead. It is his courage and humanity that will be highlighted in a special section of the new exhibition, which, through documents, historical records, and testimonies, commemorates the victims and honors the man who, amid personal tragedy, continued to save others.
British military authorities conducted an investigation immediately after the tragedy, but the cause and any potential culprits were never definitively identified. In Pula at the time, which was deeply divided politically and ethnically, various theories emerged. Since Vargarola was a gathering place for many Italians from Pula, accusations soon arose that the explosion was deliberately caused, allegedly carried out by Yugoslav agents as an act of sabotage. These claims have been repeated over the decades, but no conclusive evidence has ever been found.
More recent research has produced different versions of events and names of individuals who may have been involved, but the question of responsibility remains a subject of historical debate. The tragedy also had broader consequences. The explosion at Vargarola further fueled fear and insecurity among Pula's Italian population and is considered one of the events that preceded the mass exodus of Italians from Pula and Istria.
On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, an exhibition titled "A Forgotten Tragedy: Vargarola and Its Hero, Doctor Geppino Micheletti 1946-2026" will open in Pula, marking the 80th anniversary of the tragedy. A significant step was also taken in March 2026, when a new memorial bearing the names of 64 identified victims of Vargarola was placed near Pula Cathedral.
The article was written by M. Č., and the photograph is credited to Dusko Marusic (CROPIX).
