Construction downturn leads to fewer WWII bomb discoveries in North Rhine-Westphalia
With construction activity dwindling, the number of World War II bombs discovered in North Rhine-Westphalia has reduced substantially. As reported by the Ministry of the Interior in response to an inquiry, a mere 143 WWII bombs weighing 50 kilos or more were defused during the first nine months of 2023. This marks a significant drop compared to the same period in 2022, when 186 bombs were cleared.
"The economic stagnation in the construction sector is primarily responsible for this decrease," stated a spokesperson from the Ministry of the Interior. In some instances, entire construction plans were abandoned or left incomplete, leading to a reduction in bomb discoveries.
By September 2023, eight WWII bombs needed to be detonated on-site due to their condition. This was a stark contrast to the first nine months of the prior year, when only 18 unexploded bombs required detonation.
The year 2019 saw 307 WWII bombs weighing 50 kilos or more defused in North Rhine-Westphalia. The number of bombs defused plummeted to 197 in 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, prompting authorities to temporarily halt active searches for unexploded bombs to minimize disruptive evacuations. This decision was predominantly aimed at avoiding crowded accommodations like gyms for evacuated residents due to the viral outbreak.
The number of bomb defuses rebounded to 278 in 2021. However, several construction projects were put on hold to prevent large-scale evacuations around hospitals and nursing homes. In 2022, 239 bombs were defused in North Rhine-Westphalia. Both the coronavirus pandemic and the slowdown in the construction sector have been cited as factors contributing to the decrease.
The Ministry of the Interior strongly advises caution when encountering objects that resemble munitions online, urging immediate contact with regulatory authorities, the fire department, or police. Suspicious objects should remain untouched, as any interaction could pose severe risks.
Taking precautions seriously
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- Recent construction downturn has not directly affected the discovery and defusing of World War II bombs in North Rhine-Westphalia. The specialized teams responsible for bomb disposal, such as the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units, are not influenced by these activity levels.
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