Municipal workers restricting access to Cologne’s Rhine promenade.
(The Post News)– On Wednesday morning, Cologne’s largest post-war evacuation took place as over 20,000 residents, office workers, and hotel guests were evacuated following the discovery of three unexploded World War II bombs in the city’s Deutz district.
The bombs—American-made and fitted with impact fuses—were uncovered on Monday during construction work along the eastern bank of the River Rhine. The discovery prompted city authorities to establish a 1,000-metre evacuation zone affecting key areas, including Cologne’s old town, major transport routes, and several public institutions.
Starting from 8 a.m., the evacuation was underway as individuals within the affected area were directed to temporary shelters set up in nearby exhibition halls and university buildings. The authorities urged everyone to comply, warning that those who refused to evacuate could face heavy fines or forcible removal.
The evacuation zone included 58 hotels, nine schools, two care homes, a hospital, several museums, and the Messe/Deutz train station. Inhabitants of the city have been warned that rail services are either cancelled or rerouted, and road traffic will be heavily restricted. Shipping on the Rhine is also temporarily suspended as a section of the Rhine prior to the disposal operation.
Specialist teams are scheduled to defuse the bombs later on Wednesday, with authorities hopeful the operation will be completed within the day. The discovery of unexploded bombs is not uncommon in Cologne or across Germany, where many cities were heavily bombed during World War II.
It has been reported that experts estimate that millions of tonnes of explosives were dropped on German cities during the conflict, with an estimate of between 5% and 20% of bombs underground that failed to detonate. Meanwhile, annual statistics reveal that in 2024, 1,606 bombs were discovered and safely recovered in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where Cologne is located.
City officials expressed that with compliance they hope to ensure the safety of all residents, minimise disruption and complete the defusal within the scheduled time frame.
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