Cologne in a state of emergency: Huge evacuation due to three unexploded bombs!

Cologne in a state of emergency: Huge evacuation due to three unexploded bombs!

In Cologne-Deutz, nerves are on edge because the discovery of three unexploded bombs is causing great excitement in the city. The bombs, which were discovered during construction work on June 2, 2025, are a worrying legacy from the Second World War and are now being defused within an extensive evacuation radius. As express.de reports, a radius of 1,000 meters has been set around the site, which could lead to the evacuation of a significant number of 20,000 people.

The bombs are not seen as harmless relics; Two American 20-can bombs and one ten-can bomb are the focus of explosive ordnance disposal. All three have impact detonators, so extreme caution is required. The planned defusing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, 2025, and the Cologne city public order office is doing everything it can to ensure safety. As the city of Cologne explains on its official website, preparations are already underway to cordon off the danger area and evacuate the affected residents.

Affected infrastructure and services

The impact of this evacuation is enormous. Central areas of the city are affected, including essential infrastructure such as the Eduardus Hospital, numerous schools, daycare centers and even large facilities such as the Lanxess Arena and Cologne Cathedral. The Severins Bridge, Deutzer Bridge and Hohenzollern Bridge are also on the list of critical points that need to be closed.

• Eduardus-Krankenhaus
• Lanxess-Arena
• Severinsbrücke
• Hohenzollernbrücke
• Viele Kitas und Schulen
• Diverse städtische Dienststellen

Public transport is also severely affected. The Cologne Transport Company (KVB) has already announced that various lines will be interrupted. In addition, a shuttle service will be established to bring the evacuated people back safely after the measures have ended, a service that people who are sick or have limited mobility in particular can count on.

Preparations and evacuations

According to WDR, the first bell tour through the affected areas began at 8 a.m. Care is taken to ensure that residents only take the most necessary things with them, such as ID and medication, and leave the danger area as quickly as possible. Information about the contact point where the evacuees can find accommodation will be published on Tuesday. The city of Cologne is planning a transparently communicated FAQ page to clarify all open questions.

Although the measures are urgently needed, it is regrettable that many people were forced to leave their homes at night. A fair amount of uncertainty awaits residents before they can return to their familiar four walls. An exchange of experiences and information on site will provide clarity next Tuesday and help those affected to deal with the tense situations.

The Cologne fire department and the Düsseldorf district government's explosive ordnance disposal service are responsible for security and the proper defusing of the bombs. While the city of Cologne is closely monitoring the situation, it remains to be seen how long the evacuations will last and what condition the city's infrastructure will be left in after the measures.