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USA Today
3 days ago
- General
- USA Today
WWII bombs found in Cologne, Germany prompt evacuations
WWII bombs found in Cologne, Germany prompt evacuations Show Caption Hide Caption WWII unexploded bomb found near tracks in Paris, passengers stranded Passengers' commutes were affected after an unexploded World War II bomb was found under the tracks at Gare du Nord station in Paris. Tens of thousands were evacuated from a German city Wednesday after the discovery of three unexploded bombs in the city center left over from WWII. The operation in Cologne, located in western Germany, is the largest evacuation in the city since the end of the fighting in Europe in 1945, city officials said. More than 20,000 people including residents, workers and hotel guests were cleared from parts of the city's old town and central Deutz district, Reuters reported, spanning a zone slightly larger than a half-mile. The evacuation began at 8 a.m. local time, impacting morning commutes in a bustling riverfront area of the city. Three American bombs, each with impact fuses, were found Monday, June 2 during construction work in a shipyard on the bank of the Rhine River, according to a statement from city officials. They are two American 20-ton bombs and one American 10-ton bomb. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the Düsseldorf District Government is expected to defuse the three unexploded bombs Wednesday, the statement said. More: When did World War II start? The deadliest international conflict explained. Unexploded bombs not uncommon in Germany Unexploded bombs are often found in Germany, where many major cities sustained heavy damage during the war. Central Cologne in particular was nearly decimated in 1942 as the first target of the British Royal Airforce's "thousand bomber raids," famously leaving the city's renowned Gothic cathedral nearly unscathed. City officials estimate 20,500 people plus a large number of workers are affected by the roughly 3,200-foot evacuation radius, which includes one hospital, two retirement homes, a train station, museums and event centers including the famous Philharmonic Hall, numerous large companies and several public transportation stops. Many restaurants, nine schools, 58 hotels and several daycare centers are also among the list of evacuated locations, the statement said. Contributing: Reuters. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
Metro
3 days ago
- General
- Metro
WWII bombs discovery forces 20,000 people to evacuate their homes
Authorities are going door to door to enforce the exclusion (Picture: Getty Images) The largest evacuation in Cologne's modern history is underway after three unexploded bombs were found. The discovery of two 1,000 kg and one 500 kg American bombs has forced more than 20,000 people to leave the city centre from 8am local time (7am in the UK). Authorities have enforced an 1,000 metre exclusion zone in the heart of the city, closing nine schools and 58 hotels and forcing elderly people to leave care homes. Cologne will be empty for hours as the area's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service look to defuse or safely detonate the explosives. Map of the evacuation zone in Cologne The bombs were found near to Deutzer Bridge on Monday, with residents instructed to leave the area from 8am local time this morning. It is not yet known when residents will be allowed to return, but authorities hope the bombs can be defused by Wednesday evening. Volunteers and police officers will be going door-to-door in the city to check that everyone has left the area, with police saying they have the authority to use force to kick people out of the area if necessary. Local transport has been thrown into chaos as three bridges were closed and the rail and bus networks ground to a halt. Schools, kindergartens, care homes, hotels and museums in the exclusion zone have been forced to shut. Sports halls and churches outside of the city centre have been turned into support centres for those forced to leave their homes, offering food and refreshments. The city's cathedral is outside the exclusion zone, but three central bridges and parts of the old town are all caught up in the evacuation (Picture: Getty Images) Around 1,500,000 bombs were dropped on Cologne during the Second World War, with experts estimating 20 per cent of those not fully detonating. In 2024 alone, 31 'dud' bombs were discovered, requiring 17 evacuations. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Map shows two new locations where searches for Madeleine McCann will continue Arrow MORE: Man gets his street evacuated after pulling pin on WWII grenade from antique market Arrow MORE: Madeleine McCann prime suspect gives first interview as new searches launched
