Up to 20,000 people have been evacuated in the German city of cologne after three unexploded WWII bombs were discovered on Wednesday.
A large part of Cologne’s city centre has been cordoned off as experts prepared to defuse the explosives.
The US-manufactured weapons, which have gone unnoticed for 80 years, are two 90kg bombs and one 45 kg bombs.
The size of the bombs means that a 1,000 metre danger has had to be cordoned off.
They were discovered in the borough of Deutz in central Cologne on Monday.
The city’s evacuated area includes the entire old part of Cologne, 58 hotels, three bridges, the townhall, the train station, as well as several museums, a hospital and two care homes.
German broadcaster RTL was also evacuated this morning mid-air.
A TV presenter told viewers: ‘Excuse me if we’re a bit rushed. We’re already on the go,’ before the programme ‘Punkt 8’ was cancelled.
In the Deutzer Ufer, emergency services from the public order office stand guard in the area where three unexploded bombs from the Second World War were found
A large part of Cologne’s city centre has been cordoned off
On Deutzer Ufer, one of the three unexploded bombs from the Second World War is fenced off with screens
Officials have been going from door to door across the evacuated area to ensure businesses and homes are empty.
Two shelters have been set up for those affected as the operation continues, while sports halls and churches outside the city centre have been turned into support centres for those evacuated.
Local transport has also been affected, as three bridges were closed and rail and bus networks were brought to a halt.
It is not clear when residents will be able to return to their homes, but authorities hope that bomb disposal experts will be able to defuse them by Wednesday night.
The operation is understood to be the biggest ever post-war bomb detonation.
At least 1.5 million bombs were dropped on the German city during WWII.
The size of the bombs means that a 1,000 metre danger has had to be cordoned off
Experts believe around 20% did not fully detonate, and to this day, explosives are still lying undetonated beneath Cologne’s streets, prompting several evacuations throughout the years.
In 2024, 31 undetonated bombs were discovered in the German city, prompting 17 evacuations.
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
