Latest news with #CologneCity
Washington Post
6 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
3 World War II bombs are defused in a German city's biggest postwar evacuation
COLOGNE, Germany — Three unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II were defused on Wednesday in Cologne after the German city's biggest evacuation since the end of the war. More than 20,000 residents were evacuated from the city center earlier Wednesday after the bombs were unearthed on Monday during preparatory work for road construction.
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Cologne starts its biggest evacuation since 1945 to defuse WWII bombs
One of the three unexploded bombs from the Second World War is fenced off with screens as specialists prepare to defuse them in Cologne, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Thomas Banneyer/dpa via AP) COLOGNE, Germany — More than 20,000 residents were being evacuated from part of Cologne's city center on Wednesday as specialists prepared to defuse three unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II that were unearthed earlier this week. Even 80 years after the end of the war, unexploded bombs dropped during wartime air raids are frequently found in Germany. Disposing of them sometimes entails large-scale precautionary evacuations such as the one on Wednesday, though the location this time was unusually prominent and this is Cologne's biggest evacuation since 1945. There have been bigger evacuations in other cities. Authorities on Wednesday morning started evacuating about 20,500 residents from an area within a 1,000-meter (3,280-foot) radius of the bombs, which were discovered on Monday during preparatory work for road construction. They were found in the Deutz district, just across the Rhine River from Cologne's historic center. As well as homes, the area includes 58 hotels, nine schools, several museums and office buildings and the Messe/Deutz train station. It also includes three bridges across the Rhine — among them the heavily used Hohenzollern railway bridge, which leads into Cologne's central station and is being shut during the defusal work itself. Shipping on the Rhine will also be suspended. The plan is for the bombs to be defused during the course of the day. When exactly that happens depends on how long it takes for authorities to be sure that everyone is out of the evacuation zone.
CNN
6 days ago
- General
- CNN
Cologne evacuates 20,000 people after three World War II bombs discovered
The German city of Cologne is moving 20,500 people in its largest evacuation since World War II, after officials discovered three massive, unexploded bombs. 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.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Cologne evacuates thousands so WW2 bombs can be diffused
The German city of Cologne is evacuating some 20,500 people from a large area in the city centre so experts can defuse three unexploded bombs from World War Two. The American bombs were discovered on Monday in a shipyard in the Deutz neighbourhood. Unexploded bombs can still pose a danger and the city has sealed off the zone within a 1,000m (3280ft) radius, in what it described as "the largest operation since the end of WW2". Homes, shops, hotels and schools have been told to evacuate, as well as a large hospital and major train station. "If you refuse, we will escort you from your home - if necessary by force - along with the police," the authorities said. Residents were told if they refused to leave their homes after the evacuation began they could face expensive fines. Some intensive care patients were helped out in ambulances from the Eduardus Hospital. The country's bomb disposal service plans to diffuse the ten-tonne (10,000kg) and 20-tonne (20,000kg) bombs on Wednesday but it won't be possible to do so until all residents in the area leave for their own safety, the city said. The evacuation in the Old Town and Deutz neighbourhoods began with officials going door to door to tell people they must leave their homes. Shops, restaurants and businesses have been told to stop operating during the day. Cultural institutions including the Philharmonic Hall and many museums have been affected, as well as government buildings, 58 hotels, and nine schools. Transport was severely disrupted, with all roads are closed in the area, many trains cancelled and the Messe/Deutz train station was closed from 08:00 local time (07:00BST). The authorities have set up two drop-in centres for people who don't have anywhere to go during the evacuation period. Residents were told to "stay calm", bring their ID and any essential medications, and to take care of their pets. Cologne Bonn Airport said flights would continue as usual but travelling to the airport by train or road may be difficult. Paris train services slowly resume after WW2 bomb defused WW2 bomb blown up in Germany after evacuation
Arab News
7 days ago
- General
- Arab News
Cologne starts its biggest evacuation since 1945 to defuse WWII bombs
COLOGNE: More than 20,000 residents were being evacuated from part of Cologne's city center on Wednesday as specialists prepared to defuse three unexploded US bombs from World War II that were unearthed earlier this week. Even 80 years after the end of the war, unexploded bombs dropped during wartime air raids are frequently found in Germany. Disposing of them sometimes entails large-scale precautionary evacuations such as the one on Wednesday, though the location this time was unusually prominent and this is Cologne's biggest evacuation since 1945. There have been bigger evacuations in other cities. Authorities on Wednesday morning started evacuating about 20,500 residents from an area within a 1,000-meter (3,280-foot) radius of the bombs, which were discovered on Monday during preparatory work for road construction. They were found in the Deutz district, just across the Rhine River from Cologne's historic center. As well as homes, the area includes 58 hotels, nine schools, several museums and office buildings and the Messe/Deutz train station. It also includes three bridges across the Rhine — among them the heavily used Hohenzollern railway bridge, which leads into Cologne's central station and is being shut during the defusal work itself. Shipping on the Rhine will also be suspended. The plan is for the bombs to be defused during the course of the day. When exactly that happens depends on how long it takes for authorities to be sure that everyone is out of the evacuation zone.
