Discovered Bomb Forces A40 Shutdown in Bochum
A World War II-era bomb discovered next to the training grounds of VfL Bochum requires defusing, leading to evacuations and road closures in the city. The bomb, weighing approximately 250 kilograms, was found during exploratory work next to the training ground.
The evacuation and road closures will begin no earlier than 4:30 PM on Thursday, July 17. Around 100 residents and guests of two hotels will be evacuated, along with several hotels, a casino, and the Starlight-Express. The Round Sports Hall, sports facilities of VfL Bochum, and the Vonovia Ruhrstadion are also within the 250-meter safety radius that requires evacuation.
Fortunately, nearby hospitals - St. Josef-Hospital and LWL University Hospital - are not affected by the evacuation. However, the A40 highway must be closed due to the bomb defusal, with the A40 being closed at the Stadion/RuhrCongress exit. Two parking lots are also affected by the bomb defusal.
The Hildegardisschule at Klinikstraße 1 will open as a care center at 4:30 PM for those affected by the evacuation. The Starlight-Express has announced the cancellation of today's performance due to the bomb defusal.
Residents are advised to avoid the area due to potential significant traffic disruptions. The RuhrCongress, which does not have an event today, is also within the evacuation radius.
The bomb is an artifact of the intense strategic bombing in Germany's Ruhr region during World War II, reflecting the long-lasting remnants of conflict in urban and industrial landscapes. The Allies, particularly the British and American forces, carried out strategic bombing campaigns targeting German industrial zones, transportation hubs, and urban areas to undermine the Nazi war effort. Cities and industrial centers near Bochum, like Dortmund and Essen, were targeted due to their industrial significance, especially their coal and steel production capacity.
As a precaution, the authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects to the local police immediately.
- General-news and crime-and-justice: The authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious objects to the local police immediately, due to the discovery of a World War II-era bomb.
- Accidents: Two parking lots are among the areas affected by the evacuation due to the bomb defusal in Bochum city.
- Sports and football: The performance of the Starlight-Express has been cancelled today, due to the bomb defusal near the training grounds of VfL Bochum, impacting sports facilities and the Vonovia Ruhrstadion within the 250-meter safety radius that requires evacuation.
