Charles Esther
Up to 20,000 people have been evacuated in the German city of Cologne after three unexploded bombs from World War II were found.
A large section of the city centre was cordoned off as experts prepared to safely defuse the bombs on Wednesday morning.
The bombs, which were manufactured in the United States, had gone unnoticed for 80 years.
They include two weighing 90 kilograms each and one weighing 45 kilograms.
These explosives were discovered on Monday in the Deutz borough, located in central Cologne.
Due to the size and danger posed by the bombs, a safety zone with a radius of 1,000 metres has been sealed off.
Residents and business owners within this area were ordered to evacuate starting from 8 a.m. local time.
Evacuation Zone and Impacted Areas
The evacuation zone covers the entire old part of Cologne.
It also includes 58 hotels, three bridges, the town hall, the main train station, several museums, a hospital, and two care homes.
Even the German broadcaster RTL was forced to evacuate mid-air this morning.
A TV presenter apologized to viewers, saying, “Excuse me if we’re a bit rushed. We’re already on the go,” before cancelling the live programme Punkt 8.
Officials and volunteers have been going door to door in the evacuated zone to ensure homes and businesses are empty.
Two shelters have been set up to support those displaced by the evacuation.
Additionally, sports halls and churches outside the city centre have been converted into temporary support centres.
Local public transport services were also disrupted, with rail and bus networks brought to a halt.
Timeline and Defusing Efforts
At present, it is unclear when residents will be allowed to return home.
Authorities hope bomb disposal experts will complete the defusing process by Wednesday night.
This operation is reported to be the largest post-war bomb detonation ever conducted in Cologne.
Historical Context of Bombing in Cologne
During World War II, at least 1.5 million bombs were dropped on the city.
In May 1942, Cologne was targeted by the Royal Air Force’s first “thousand-bomber raid.”
On that single night, more than 1,000 aircraft dropped 1,455 tons of bombs on the city.
Experts estimate that around 20% of these bombs failed to detonate upon impact.
As a result, unexploded explosives still lie beneath Cologne’s streets to this day.
This has caused multiple evacuations over the years.
In 2024 alone, 31 undetonated bombs were discovered in the city, prompting 17 evacuations.
Recent Similar Discoveries in Germany
The Cologne evacuation follows the discovery of another WWII bomb near Tesla’s factory in Gruenheide, just outside Berlin, several months ago.
Local authorities reported that a 250-kilogram bomb was found in a forested area close to the US electric vehicle manufacturer’s plant.
These discoveries highlight the ongoing dangers posed by unexploded ordnance in Germany decades after the war ended.
