Astonishing footage shows divers uncovering gold bars which were supposedly hidden by Japanese soldiers during World War II.

The viral Reddit clip claims to show the long-lost Yamashita Treasure – which includes gold and gemstones worth billions of pounds.

The clip claims to show the fabled Yamashita Treasure which was supposedly dumped by Japanese soldiers during WWII, reports The Sun.

The video also claims the fortune is booby-trapped with bombs.

The loot was reportedly stashed in underground tunnels and caves by fighters under the command of General Tomoyuki Yamashita before Japan surrendered to the US in 1945.

Yamashita’s unit allegedly stole the booty before stashing it.

The fortune has become a Filipino legend yet many experts claim there is no evidence the treasure ever existed.

In the newly released video, explorers are shown wiping away mud from bars revealing their shiny gold surface.

After it was shared on social media site Reddit the footage has been viewed nearly 200,000 times.

But despite the excitement around the clip, anthropologist Piers Kelly insists that Yamashita Treasure is a myth conjured by locals to boost morale.

Speaking with the International Business Times, he said: “Tales of buried gold, silver and generic treasure are recounted throughout the Philippines.

“By tracing variations of this story, we were able to show their popularity coincides with periods of war and crisis.

“The promise of future wealth may have served to boost local morale.”