A massive evacuation is underway in Cologne, Germany, with over 20,000 people forced to leave their homes. The reason: three unexploded World War II bombs were discovered in the city center.
The bombs, which are American-made, were found on Monday at a shipyard in the Deutz district. The area has been sealed off, with a 1,000-meter radius closed to prevent any potential danger. This has become one of the largest bomb disposal operations since the end of World War II.
Residents have been ordered to leave their homes, shops, hotels, schools, and even a large hospital and train station in the old town and Deutz districts. Those who refuse to evacuate will be removed by police and may face fines.
Some patients from the Edouardus hospital’s emergency room were evacuated by ambulance.
Finding unexploded WWII bombs is not uncommon in German cities like Cologne and Berlin. However, this recent discovery is particularly challenging due to the bombs’ large size. Authorities plan to start the disposal process once all residents are safely evacuated.
The evacuation began with officials going door-to-door to inform residents. Businesses were told to shut down for the day, leaving the usually bustling streets empty. Travel has been severely disrupted, with many roads closed and train services canceled.
The city of Cologne has set up two temporary shelters for those who have nowhere to go during the evacuation. Cologne Bonn Airport has reported that flights are operating as usual, but getting to the airport by train or car may be difficult.
Source: BBC