Around 20,000 evacuated in Cologne after discovery of unexploded WWII bombs

Published connected 04/06/2025 - 13:17 GMT+2•Updated 13:33

More than 20,000 group were evacuated from their homes successful nan German metropolis of Cologne connected Wednesday arsenic experts effort to defuse 3 unexploded US bombs from World War II.

Authorities connected Wednesday greeting started evacuating astir 20,500 residents, arsenic good arsenic workers and edifice guests, from a cardinal area wrong a 1,000-metre radius of nan bombs, which were discovered connected Monday during preparatory activity for roadworthy construction. They were recovered successful nan Deutz district, crossed nan Rhine River from Cologne’s historical centre.

Disposing of specified bombs sometimes entails large-scale precautionary evacuations specified arsenic nan 1 connected Wednesday, though nan metropolis described this arsenic "the largest cognition since nan extremity of World War II".

Those evacuated were directed to shelter points successful accumulation halls and assemblage buildings, while agency workers successful nan affected area were advised to time off their offices earlier 8 americium aliases to debar nan area altogether.

The metropolis said residents who refused to time off their homes could look hefty fines.

"If you refuse, we will escort you from your location — if basal by unit — on pinch nan police," nan authorities said.

Cologne’s Messe/Deutz train position is unopen during nan defusal activity while shipping connected nan Rhine is besides suspended. The city's celebrated UNESCO-listed cathedral and its Philharmonic Hall are among nan sites temporarily closed to nan nationalist until nan extremity of nan day, erstwhile nan explosive defusal is expected to beryllium completed.

The metropolis said it planned to deploy explosive disposal technicians to defuse nan bombs connected tract earlier transporting them to unafraid ammunition containers for dismantling and disposal.

Experts judge that astir 1.3 cardinal tonnes of explosives were dropped connected German cities during World War II. The number of bombs that grounded to detonate remains uncertain, pinch estimates ranging from 5% to 20%.

Similar discoveries person triggered different evacuations complete nan years. In 2024, 1,606 bombs were discovered and rendered harmless successful nan authorities of North Rhine-Westphalia. 

"Every explosive that we find and neutralise is simply a work to our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren," North Rhine-Westphalia's Interior Minister Herbert Reul said successful April astatine a convention presenting nan state's latest yearly statistic connected unexploded devices.