Authorities in the German city of Cologne have evacuated approximately 20,000 people after three unexploded World War II-era bombs were discovered in the city’s center.
The U.S.-manufactured bombs — two weighing 90 kilograms and one 45 kilograms — were unearthed on Monday in Deutz, a central borough of Cologne. Believed to have remained undetected for nearly 80 years, the explosives have prompted one of the largest evacuations in the city’s postwar history.
To ensure public safety, a 1,000-meter exclusion zone has been established around the site. Local authorities began clearing the area at 8 a.m. Wednesday, as bomb disposal experts prepared to safely defuse the devices.
The evacuation zone covers significant landmarks, including Cologne’s historic old town, the main train station, City Hall, three bridges over the Rhine River, 58 hotels, several museums, a hospital, and two care homes.
German broadcaster RTL was forced to abruptly end its live program this morning due to the evacuation order. A presenter on the show Punkt 8 told viewers, “Excuse me if we’re a bit rushed. We’re already on the go,” before the broadcast was cut short.
Local transport has been heavily disrupted, with bus and rail services suspended throughout the affected area.
To support those displaced, the city has opened two emergency shelters, while sports halls and churches outside the exclusion zone are serving as temporary support centers.
City officials say the defusing operation could be the largest of its kind in Cologne’s postwar era. During World War II, an estimated 1.5 million bombs were dropped on the city by Allied forces — many of which remain buried and unexploded beneath urban areas.
Residents have been urged to stay clear of the danger zone and to follow updates from city officials as the operation continues.
