In the largest evacuation operation since the end of World War II, the German city of Cologne evacuated more than 20,000 people on Wednesday following the discovery of three unexploded American bombs.
The bombs were uncovered on Monday during preliminary roadwork in the city’s Deutz district, situated across the Rhine from Cologne’s historic center. As a safety precaution, authorities ordered the evacuation of around 20,500 residents, along with office workers and hotel guests within a 1,000-meter radius of the site.
Evacuees were directed to temporary shelters set up in exhibition centers and college buildings. Office staff were urged to vacate the area by 8 a.m. or avoid it altogether. The city issued strict warnings, noting that those who refused to leave their homes risked fines or even forced removal with police assistance.
The operation also brought parts of the city to a halt. The Messe/Deutz train station was temporarily closed, shipping traffic on the Rhine was suspended, and landmarks such as Cologne Cathedral and the Philharmonic Hall were shut to the public for the day.
Bomb disposal teams were deployed to safely defuse the devices on site before transporting them to secure containers for further dismantling.
Experts estimate that roughly 1.3 million tonnes of explosives were dropped on Germany during World War II. Between 5% and 20% of those bombs failed to detonate, meaning such discoveries are still relatively common.
In 2024 alone, over 1,600 unexploded bombs were found and neutralized in North Rhine-Westphalia, the state where Cologne is located.
