Germany updates: Merz to take first trip to Washington – DW – 06/04/2025
June 4, 2025 Cologne: WWII bombs cause large scale evacuations
The discovery of World War II-era bombs in Cologne on Monday has led authorities to evacuate an estimated 20,000 people from their homes.
City authorities say its one of the largest evacuations in postwar history and affected areas including the entire old part of the city, 58 hotels, three Rhine bridges, the town hall, the railway station in the district of Deutz, which lies across the Rhine from the city center, museums, a hospital and two care homes.
Bomb disposal is a common occurrence in Cologne, which was one of the most heavily bombed German cities during World War II.
Read more here.
A large part of Cologne city centre has to be cordoned off for the defusing of three World War II bombs Image: Thomas Banneyer/dpa/picture alliance
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