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Huge evacuation in Cologne: bomb defusal affects 20,000 people!
On June 2, 2025, Cologne will be evacuated to defuse three World War II bombs. 20,000 people are affected, including the RTL headquarters in Deutz.
Huge evacuation in Cologne: bomb defusal affects 20,000 people!
On Wednesday, Cologne faces one of the biggest challenges in many years, as a large-scale defusing of World War II bombs is causing extensive evacuations in the city. How Yahoo News Reportedly, three bombs were discovered on Monday: two American 20-pound bombs and one 10-pound bomb. This discovery forces authorities to evacuate around 20,000 people from homes and offices. The affected facilities include 58 hotels, a hospital and several museums.
The scale of the evacuation is enormous. Although bomb disposals are not uncommon in Cologne, this measure is the largest of its kind since the end of the Second World War. The Süddeutsche Zeitung emphasizes that the Cologne Messe/Deutz train station and two nursing and retirement homes also fall within the restricted area. Three Rhine bridges, including the Hohenzollern Bridge and the Deutzer Bridge, are also affected.
RTL on air
For the RTL headquarters in Cologne-Deutz, this means an almost complete shutdown of operations on the day of the evacuation. While the live programs “Point 6” and “Point 7” will be broadcast as usual, the program “Point 8” will be canceled due to the evacuation. RTL Deutschland employees retreat to a mobile office to maintain broadcasting operations while important news programs are broadcast from the capital studio in Berlin.
The major evacuation and the associated challenges have put the city of Cologne in high tension. How WDR informed, exact details about closures and changes to public transport will be announced shortly. The first ringing of the bell was announced for Wednesday from 8 a.m., which initiates the defusing procedure.
Memories of the past
Cologne was heavily bombed during the Second World War, which is why such defusing operations are often necessary here. The city suffered considerable destruction during the first “thousand bomber attack” by the British Royal Air Force on Germany in 1942. The dangers posed by remaining ammunition from this period have not disappeared to this day.
The people of Cologne will have to prepare for extensive traffic restrictions and a temporary interruption to their usual routines on Wednesday. The city administration is working hard to provide those affected with the best possible information and to ensure the safety of everyone.