Central Cologne evacuated after discovery of wartime bombs
BERLIN (Reuters) - Thousands of people were being evacuated from central Cologne in western Germany on Wednesday following the discovery of three wartime bombs, in what the city authority called the largest such measure since the end of World War II.
An evacuation zone with a radius of 1,000 metres will be cleared from 8am (0600 GMT), impacting around 20,500 residents as well as many workers and hotel guests in the city's historic old town and popular Deutz district, a statement from the authority said.
Three American bombs from World War II, each with impact fuses, were discovered during construction work on Monday in Deutz, a bustling area on the bank of the River Rhine.
A team of bomb disposal experts plans to disarm the ordnance later on Wednesday, the statement said.
Unexploded bombs are often found in Germany, which had many of its major cities bombed to ruins during the war, and such operations often go smoothly.
The evacuation area includes one hospital, two retirement homes and nine schools, as well as 58 hotels and many museums.
"Everyone involved hopes that the defusing can be completed in the course of Wednesday. This is only possible if all those affected leave their homes or workplaces early and stay outside the evacuation area from the outset on that day," the city authority said in a statement appealing to residents to follow instructions.
The measures caused major disruptions to transport in and out of the city of over a million people, with Germany's national rail operator warning that many trains would be diverted or possibly cancelled.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News24
2 hours ago
- News24
Israel shuts global embassies after attacking Iran
Israel closes embassies globally, suspending consular services amid heightened tensions. Citizens advised to avoid displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols in public for safety. Large-scale Israeli strikes target Iranian nuclear sites and military commanders. Israel is shutting its embassies around the world and has urged citizens to stay alert and not display Jewish or Israeli symbols in public places, statements posted on embassy websites said on Friday after Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran. The statements said Israel would not be providing consular services and urged citizens to cooperate with local security services if faced with hostile activity. No timeframe was given for how long the embassies would be closed. A person picking up the phone at the embassy in Berlin gave no further details, and Israel's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. Israelis abroad were encouraged to fill out a form to update the foreign ministry on their location. This was also done after the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel to coordinate the return of reservists and organise rescue flights. "In light of recent developments, Israeli missions around the world will be closed and consular services will not be provided," the statement said. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, said Germany was stepping up protection of Jewish and Israeli sites. The area around the Israeli embassy in Berlin was largely quiet and empty except for some police and police cars. Visible security was increased outside the Great Synagogue of Stockholm, with a police van and car parked near the building, a Reuters witness said. Earlier, Israel said it had attacked nuclear facilities and missile factories in Iran and had killed a swathe of military commanders in what could be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon. US President Donald Trump suggested that Iran had brought the attack on itself by resisting US demands in talks to restrict its nuclear programme, and urged it to make a deal, "with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal".
Bloomberg
4 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Trump Can't Derail Climate Agenda, Senior ECB Official Says
Europe's determination to include climate risk in financial regulations won't be thrown off track by the Trump administration's interventions, according to a senior European Central Bank official. 'We always go back to our mandate,' Irene Heemskerk, head of the ECB's Climate Change Centre, said in an interview. 'We see climate and environmental risk — regardless of any political wind that goes around — as relevant for banks to manage.'
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cleanup and testing underway after sewage spill dumps over 3 million gallons in Palm Bay
The Brief A sewer break released over 3 million gallons of sewage into local waterways. Crews have recovered about 2 million gallons; cleanup continues through Saturday. Residents await test results and question the city's infrastructure safeguards. PALM BAY, Fla. - City officials in Palm Bay are continuing cleanup efforts after more than 3 million gallons of sewage spilled into residential areas and nearby waterways following a sewer pipe break. What we know A sewer line rupture in Palm Bay on Sunday night led to the release of approximately 3.19 million gallons of raw sewage into local waterways, including Turkey Creek and surrounding riverways. The break occurred near Claremont Street. Crews have since recovered about 2 million gallons and removed a foot of contaminated soil, but over a million gallons could not be retrieved. What we don't know Officials have not yet released the full environmental impact of the spill. Water sample test results, which will indicate the level of contamination in affected waterways, are still pending. It is also unclear what caused the pipe to fail or whether aging infrastructure played a role. The backstory This is not the first time Palm Bay has dealt with a wastewater spill, and some residents have expressed growing frustration over the city's handling of such incidents. Concerns have mounted over the city's wastewater infrastructure and how future spills can be prevented. What they're saying Officials say crews have so far been able to recover approximately 2 million gallons of wastewater and have removed 12 inches of contaminated soil from the impacted site. However, more than 1 million gallons could not be recovered. "We've been dealt with a devastating blow," said Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina. "The reaction of the men and women that actually served throughout this catastrophe should be commended — countless hours, many didn't sleep." What's next Cleanup crews are expected to remain in the area through Saturday as part of the continuing response effort. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the City of Palm Bay.
