Dozens of Muscovites have been evacuated after maintenance workers uncovered hundreds of World War II-era artillery shells beneath a road. MOSCOW (AP) — Dozens of Muscovites have been evacuated after maintenance workers uncovered hundreds of World War II-era artillery shells beneath a road.

Workers expanding a road in the west of the Russian capital Wednesday stumbled upon nearly 600 field artillery shells, officials at the scene said.

Lt. Col. Segrei Vlasov, a Moscow military spokesman said the ammunition had no fuses. Later, other officials at the scene said some of the shells were armed.

Residents of two nearby buildings were evacuated immediately, and the road was closed to traffic.

Such finds are relatively common in Russia, which experienced some of World War II's fiercest battles.