Cologne evacuates 20,000 people after three World War II bombs discovered
The American bombs – two 20-ton weapons and another that weighs 10 tons – were found in a shipyard on Monday, the city said, causing a huge 'danger zone' to be sealed off on Wednesday morning.
A hospital, two retirement centers and the city's second largest train station were among the facilities emptied out. Schools, churches, museums and two of the city's cultural landmarks – the Musical Dome theater and the Philharmonic Hall – also fell within the evacuation zone.
The discovery of unexploded weapons is a frequent phenomenon in Cologne, which was decimated by Allied bombing during World War II, but no operation of this size has been carried out since the end of the war, the city said.
'Everyone involved hopes that the defusing can be completed by Wednesday,' city authorities said in a statement. 'This will only be possible if all those affected leave their homes or workplaces early and stay outside the evacuation area from the outset.'
The city told residents to 'stay calm (and) prepare yourselves' for the evacuation, recommending they visit friends or family and avoid workplaces in the sealed-off area.
Officials said they 'cannot make any reliable predictions' about how long the operation will take, adding that specialists cannot begin to defuse the bombs until the entire area has been evacuated.
'If you refuse, we will escort you from your home – if necessary by force – along with the police,' the city's statement said.
Allied nations conducted 262 air raids of Cologne during World War II, killing approximately 20,000 residents and leaving the city in ruins. Nearly all of the buildings in the Old Town were destroyed, as were 91 of the city's 150 churches.
A massive reconstruction effort took place after the war, with the Old Town rebuilt and major landmarks restored.
But small evacuations still take place on a regular basis when unexploded ordnances are found. Around 10,000 residents had to leave their homes in October when another American bomb was found, and in December, 3,000 people were asked to evacuate.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
a minute ago
- Axios
Iowa taxpayers expected to see average of $3,000 in savings
President Trump's "big, beautiful bill" is expected to save Iowans an average of $3,139 on their federal taxes next year, according to an analysis released last week by the Tax Foundation. Why it matters: The savings could free up money for people to spend on other things, potentially giving Iowa's economy a much-needed boost. Catch up fast: The bill also includes new tax breaks for tips and overtime income, a cut for seniors, and an expanded child-care tax cut, all of which expire in 2028. Trump called the bill " the greatest victory yet," signing it at a highly staged White House Independence Day celebration. Friction point: The bill also made steep cuts to social spending on food benefits and Medicaid, outweighing the benefits for many lower-income Americans. And it phases out some energy tax credits, which nonpartisan think tank Energy Innovation estimates will cost Iowans an additional $350 annually by 2035, the Register reports. By the numbers: The bill's passage will give the average American a federal tax cut of $3,752 in 2026 compared with what they would've paid if the 2017 tax cuts had expired, according to nonpartisan research group the Tax Foundation, Axios' Emily Peck and Jason Lalljee report. Wyoming ($5,375) and Washington ($5,372) will experience the biggest breaks. Mississippi ($2,401) and West Virginia ($2,503) will see the smallest. Zoom in: Iowa's average cuts in 2026 range from $2,311 in Appanoose County to $4,330 in Dallas County. What they're saying: Iowa's all-Republican congressional delegation supported the bill. The other side: The bill will kick 100,000 Iowans off Medicaid and put rural hospitals and nursing homes at risk, Iowa Democratic Party Chairperson Rita Hart said in a statement just after the bill passed last month.
Axios
a minute ago
- Axios
New report shows Bexar County's local news gap
Bexar County has fewer than four local reporters for every 100,000 people — less than half the national average. Why it matters: Many American neighborhoods lack adequate news coverage for everything from school board meetings and elections to local sports and cultural events. Driving the news: The U.S. now has 8.2 "local journalist equivalents" (LJEs) for every 100,000 people, down 75% from 2002 on average. That's according to the Local Journalist Index 2025 from Muck Rack and Rebuild Local News, a local journalism nonprofit. Two-thirds of U.S. counties fall below the national average, underscoring what researchers call "the stunning collapse in local reporting." How it works: The findings are based on Muck Rack's data about journalists and media outlets nationwide as of Q1 2025. Among other steps, the authors adjusted the number of overall journalists in each county to account for part-timers, plus those who work for big-city outlets but sometimes cover suburban affairs. The result is the " local journalist equivalent" — a metric similar to "full-time equivalent," which accounts for part-time employees when measuring the size of a workforce. State of play: Efforts are underway to bolster the local media landscape. The University of Texas at San Antonio announced a new journalism degree program last week. Press Forward San Antonio — the state's only chapter of a national $500 million initiative — launched in 2024 and is prioritizing rural newsroom grants, according to Poynter. What they're saying:"If there's no news and information source in your community, then there's no access to the resources that people need to survive and make better decisions," Jesus Garcia-Gonzalez, senior program officer for Press Forward San Antonio, told Poynter.
Newsweek
14 minutes ago
- Newsweek
The Bulletin August 14, 2025
The rundown: A ceasefire in Ukraine will be the focus for Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump when they meet in Alaska, but cooperation between Russia and the United States in the Arctic would also be a salient topic for discussion, a regional expert has told Newsweek. Find out more. Why it matters: The Russian and American presidents will meet at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on Friday, during which the Trump administration will hope for a breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war. Andreas Østhagen, from the Fridtjof Nansen Institute in Oslo, said Anchorage is the natural location for the presidents to discuss the surrounding strategic region, which is drawing increasing attention from both countries. He said that oil and gas exploration, developing the Northern Sea route, and fishing are areas of mutual interest that could be discussed. Read more in-depth coverage: Map Shows US Tracking Chinese Ships Near Alaska TL/DR: Both Russia and the U.S. have prioritized the Arctic, making it a natural topic for a summit held in Alaska, which is the gateway to the region where the Bering Strait is a direct maritime passage between the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. What happens now? The White House has described Friday's summit in Anchorage as a "listening exercise," for Trump. Before then, European leaders are likely to push for the U.S. to keep Ukraine's interests in mind. Deeper reading How Arctic Could Form Key Part of Ukraine Ceasefire Talks
