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In the city of Bochum, Germany, two World War II bombs have been discovered in a residential area near the Emil-von-Behring School on Rastenburger Street. The ordnance disposal service will conduct an inspection on Tuesday, August 12.
If the bomb suspicion is confirmed, evacuation measures may be necessary on the same day. The city has asked residents to pay attention to information distributed via the Nina warning app, city's social media channels, and the city's website. However, the exact location of the second ordnance suspicion point and the number of residents potentially affected by the evacuation are not specified.
The Hofstede indoor swimming pool, approximately 500 meters away from the Emil-von-Behring School by air line, will close earlier on Tuesday. The pool will close after the end of the early swimming time at 8 a.m., but may reopen during the day if the bomb suspicions are not confirmed.
General practices in Germany concerning unexploded WWII bombs in residential areas suggest that evacuation is typically carried out by local authorities in coordination with bomb disposal experts. The evacuation radius depends largely on the size and type of the bomb. For example, bombs around 250 kg may lead to evacuation within a few hundred meters, while larger bombs, such as 500 kg or more, can cause evacuations with a radius of up to 1,000 meters or more.
Residents are usually required to leave the designated evacuation zone temporarily until the bomb has been safely defused or removed, which can take several hours. Public warnings and instructions are announced via local media, sirens, and emergency alerts.
For precise evacuation procedures and radius for Bochum specifically, it is recommended to contact local governmental or emergency management authorities in Bochum or North Rhine-Westphalia, as procedures may vary depending on the bomb type, size, and local regulations.
At this time, there is no information available regarding the precautions being taken for the safety of the residents or the ordnance disposal service personnel. Our website will report on Tuesday about the inspection and any further steps.
- Despite the unknown location and number of residents potentially affected by the evacuation, general practices in Germany for unexplored WWII bombs in residential areas indicate that evacuation is usually coordinated with bomb disposal experts and the evacuation radius depends on the size and type of the bomb.
- In light of the incident involving two WWII bombs discovered in Bochum, Germany, residents are advised to pay attention to information distributed via the Nina warning app, city's social media channels, and the city's website for precise evacuation procedures and radius, as the safety of residents and bomb disposal service personnel may require precautions.
