Evacuation in Cologne: 20,000 people affected due to bombing

Evacuation in Cologne: 20,000 people affected due to bombing

Köln-Deutz, Deutschland - in Cologne-Deutz will be on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, comprehensive evacuation measures. The reason for this is three World War II bombs found on the Deutzer shipyard. These bombs, two American 20-centers bombs and an American ten-century bomb, are all with surcharges underground and urgently need to be mitigated. According to Radio Erft the evacuation will start at 8 a.m. and affects around 20,000 people in the left and right bank of the Rhine.

The evacuation zone extends over Cologne-Deutz and the Cologne old town, where, among other things, the Eduardus Hospital, several old people's and nursing homes as well as around 60 hotels and numerous schools are affected. Large companies, the Lanxess Arena, the Musical Dome and the Philharmonie also have to be cleared. Visitors to the “Teddy Show”, which was planned for June 8, must prepare for a laying of the event; The tickets keep their validity.

logistical challenges

The effects of evacuation on traffic are significant. The Deutz train station will be completely closed from 8 a.m. and train traffic will be diverted on the way to Cologne Central Station. Cologne transport companies (KVB) also expect massive impairments: buses and trains will not stop in the affected area during the evacuation, so that it makes sense to avoid this part of the city that day. Deutsche Bahn also reports that numerous long-distance trains will not keep in Cologne-Deutz, which can lead to delays, since trains are diverted in a large scale.

A first rung for evacuation will take place on Wednesday from 8 a.m. If people do not leave the area of ​​evacuation voluntarily, the police are threatened in the extreme case. To ensure that everything is going smoothly, the evacuation is supported by the police, possibly also with helicopters and thermal imaging cameras. Residents are expressly pointed out to follow the instructions of the security service when evacuating, since there is a risk to life in uncontrolled detonations.

contact points and help for those affected

There are contact points for the evacuated citizens: On the right bank of the Rhine, those affected can be waiting in the exhibition hall 10.1 and Linkrheinisch at the Humboldtstrasse vocational college. Since pets must not be taken into the replacement accommodations, it is recommended to ensure their accommodation beforehand. In addition, a citizen phone on 0221/221-0 or 115 is available for questions that can be reached from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Affected residents should take important things such as ID documents, money cards, medical documents and necessary medicines.

The “Gaffel am Dom” opens for the first 100 visitors from 10 a.m. with a welcome gift and a brewery breakfast, so that the time of uncertainty can be bridged a little better. The city also recommends using warning apps such as Nina or Katwarn to always remain informed about current developments, since the exact time of the end of the closures is uncertain.

The situation once again shows that bombs from the Second World War, as from ergo, regularly pose a serious risk for the residents even decades after the war. The authorities are doing everything possible to ensure that the evacuation and subsequent bombing are securely. The city will clarify the citizens about information channels such as social media, radio and, in an emergency, also by handouts.

In this sense, we call all Cologne names: to prepare well inside, to consider the instructions and to act in solidarity. The story will remind us that there are also small deeds that can make great things.