Bomb found in Cologne-Deutz: 20,000 people have to be evacuated!

Bomb found in Cologne-Deutz: 20,000 people have to be evacuated!

A bomb discovery from the Second World War is currently causing a stir in Cologne-Deutz. On Monday, June 2, 2025, three World War II bombs were discovered. The local authorities reacted immediately and now have to evacuate around 20,000 people, whose security perimeter extends to one kilometer. This not only affects residents, but also critical infrastructure such as the Eduardus Hospital and two care facilities. How Radio Erft reported, the evacuation will begin on Wednesday morning, June 4, 2025, from 8 a.m.

The bombs found were two 20 quintals and one 10 quintal bomb, all with impact detonators. These were found in the Deutzer Werft area and must be defused urgently. The explosive ordnance disposal service of the Düsseldorf district government is responsible for defusing the fire. The city of Cologne has already taken measures to cordon off the danger area and inform residents, according to the city of Cologne on its press website City of Cologne.

Impact on infrastructure

The evacuations and the upcoming defusing work have a significant impact on the city's infrastructure. Important transport routes such as the Severins Bridge, Deutzer Bridge and Hohenzollern Bridge as well as the Deutz train station are affected. The Cologne transport company (KVB) is also affected; Lines 1, 7 and 9 will be restricted in the area of ​​operation. Additional information about traffic restrictions and road closures will be announced promptly, as the city of Cologne emphasizes in its announcements.

Many facilities and companies in the area are particularly affected, including the Lanxess Arena, the Musical Dome and the Cologne Philharmonic. There are even nine schools and numerous daycare centers in the danger zone, which is why parents and care centers must be informed to ensure the safety of the children.

Evacuation details and contact points

The contact point for affected residents will be announced later. During the evacuation, people should take essential items such as identification, medication and baby food with them. Pets are not allowed into the return point, which poses an additional challenge for many pet owners. The city will try to accommodate those affected as quickly as possible; support from volunteers is expected.

With a large-scale operation by the fire department and the public order office, the evacuation is expected to go smoothly. The Cologne fire department is ready to help evacuate residential areas and minimize possible risks. Previous evacuations in the city, such as a recent defusal of a five hundredweight bomb, have shown that the city is well prepared for such situations. Also the communication via the WDR page has been unproblematic so far and will also be of utmost importance in this situation.