Cologne in a state of emergency: 20,000 people have to be evacuated because of bombs!

Cologne in a state of emergency: 20,000 people have to be evacuated because of bombs!

There is a lot of activity in Cologne-Deutz these days, all in the spirit of security: three World War II bombs were discovered and are forcing the city to carry out extensive evacuation measures. This Wednesday, June 4, 2025, around 20,000 people will have to leave their homes to reach safety. These are two 20 quintal bombs and one 10 quintal bomb of American design, which are equipped with impact detonators. The evacuation covers a danger zone with a radius of 1,000 meters, which affects important cultural institutions such as the Museum Ludwig as well as the Lanxess Arena and the Philharmonie, reports RTL.

The city of Cologne, in collaboration with the explosive ordnance disposal service of the Düsseldorf district government and the Cologne public order office, is ensuring that the evacuation runs smoothly. The intensive evacuation is described as one of the largest in recent years. Important transport routes are also affected by this measure, including several Rhine bridges and the Messe/Deutz train station, which significantly affects mobility in the city.

RTL program changes

The television station RTL is also affected by the bomb discoveries and is forced to adapt its program at short notice. From Thursday, the news formats “Point 6”, “Point 7”, “Point 8” and “Point 12” will be broadcast from the capital studio in Berlin. This is the second program change in a row that can be traced back to the bomb defusal in Cologne-Deutz. All further broadcasts will be recorded in advance to ensure the safety of employees, points out T-Online.

Like the rescue measures, the RTL program change shows that the city and its facilities are highly valued, even in times of crisis. The employees of RTL Deutschland in Cologne work from the mobile office as far as possible, while the daily current program from n-tv is produced in Cologne-Ossendorf from 7 a.m.

Evacuation and return of residents

The evacuation begins in the early hours of the morning. Residents are encouraged to take essential items such as ID cards, medication and baby food with them. However, animal lovers are at a disadvantage: pets are not allowed to be brought into the contact point. This is located in the gymnasium of the Humboldstrasse vocational college, where some of those affected have to spend the night while others look for alternative accommodation. A medical transport service is provided for people who are sick or have walking difficulties. said WDR.

The evacuation itself will take a few hours, and spatial closures will have to be maintained until the bombs are defused and safely transported away. Even if the residents have to temporarily leave their own four walls, it is already clear that many of them will soon be able to return to their homes after defusing and rescue. However, it will remain exciting until the official closures are completely lifted and life in Cologne-Deutz returns to its usual course.