WWII bombs found in Cologne, Germany prompt evacuations
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.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the Düsseldorf District Government is expected to defuse the three unexploded bombs Wednesday, the statement said.
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 Paste BN. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.