Bomb Defusal in Cologne: 20,000 Residents Evacuated Due to WWII Remnants
German authorities successfully neutralized wartime explosives in Cologne, detonated during World War I, at 19.19 hours.
Kicking off an unexpected adventure, Cologne, Germany, got a taste of its third major evacuation in recent years when three World War II bombs were discovered in the city on an ordinary day. By evening, the thrilling operation concluded - even faster than anticipated.
Empty streets, vacant shops, and deserted RTL broadcasting center - these became the face of Cologne's city center as it transformed into a ghost town. More than 20,000 residents were evacuated from their homes, leaving behind a bustling metropolis that resembled a ghost town.
In the evening, three American bombs from World War II were defused on the banks of the Rhine in the Deutz district. Around 19:19, specialists from the Ordnance Disposal Service had rendered all three bombs safe - in just around an hour instead of the estimated minimum of one and a half hours. With the bombs rendered harmless, streets and bridges gradually reopened, allowing residents to return to their homes, although some traffic disruptions remained.
Cologne's Mayor Henriette Reker thanked all those involved, "who have carried out the largest evacuation action in Cologne since 1945 in an outstanding and professional manner."
The restricted zone included several large companies, schools, and hotels, as well as a hospital, two nursing homes, numerous museums, and the RTL television station. The Cologne-Messe/Deutz train station was also closed. With the Hohenzollern Bridge near Cologne Cathedral being closed as well, traffic over the Rhine to Cologne's main station came to a standstill.
Although one resident in the old town of Cologne initially refused to leave their apartment, delaying the start of the defusing operation, eventually everyone was evacuated safely.
Unfortunately, the evacuation had an impact on entertainment events, forcing a comedian's performance to be postponed and a WDR Symphony Orchestra concert to be canceled. For couples wanting to get married in the historic town hall, plans were disrupted, but their ceremony took place in a somewhat less glamorous location. Coffee shops, cafés, and gardeens opened their doors to displaced individuals looking for a place to stay or work, recalling the river Rhine spirit of unity in tough times.
World War II continues to influence everyday life in Cologne, even after over 80 years. Between 1,500 and 2,000 bombs from the war continue to be discovered each year, with around 200 of the larger caliber bombs found, like the ones currently in Cologne. Cologne, like other German cities, has seen its fair share of unexploded munitions, with recurring evacuations and disposal efforts becoming a regular part of life in these cities.
Sources: ntv.de, as/dpa
- Cologne
- Bomb finds
- World War II
- Police
- The community policy in Cologne may need to be updated to efficiently handle events such as bomb finds, considering the city's frequent evacuations due to World War II remnants.
- The unexpected bomb defusal operation in Cologne, resulting from the discovery of World War II relics, could potentially be considered a 'general-news' item considering its widespread impact.
- The current evacuation in Cologne, due to the discovery of World War II bombs, adds to the long list of crime-and-justice incidents and war-and-conflicts incidents that have occurred in various parts of the world.
