Workers laying a sewer pipe beneath a former brewery in Belgium have unearthed a hidden hoard of gold estimated to be worth about US$10.4 million.
The extraordinary discovery was made during renovation work in the Flemish town of Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde, where workers unexpectedly came across what initially appeared to be a pile of old coins buried underground.
According to reports, the stash turned out to contain gold nuggets, coins and bullion bars. The workers were stunned by the discovery, which was made as they excavated beneath the former brewery to install a sewer pipe.
The treasure was subsequently handed over to authorities, as keeping the find could amount to theft under Belgian law. It is currently being safeguarded by CAW Oost-Vlaanderen, a welfare organisation that hopes the fortune could eventually be used to support charitable work.
The rightful owner of the gold remains unknown, although speculation has centred on the Van Assche family, which was associated with the brewery. Under Belgian regulations, the legal owner has five years to come forward and claim the treasure.
If no rightful owner is identified within that period, the gold could potentially be shared between the person who discovered it and the property owner.
The discovery has already attracted the attention of treasure hunters, prompting police to warn members of the public against entering the demolition and construction area because of safety risks.
What began as an ordinary sewer project has therefore turned into an extraordinary treasure hunt, with millions of dollars' worth of gold emerging from beneath a building that had kept its secret for decades.
