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Huge aerial bomb defused in Meppen: 4,200 residents evacuated!
A 250 kg aerial bomb was defused in Meppen on June 26, 2025; 4,200 residents had to be evacuated.
Huge aerial bomb defused in Meppen: 4,200 residents evacuated!
In Meppen, more precisely in the Esterfeld district, today was an exciting but also tense afternoon. During construction work in a new commercial area between Fullener Straße and Haupteschweg, a 250 kilogram bomb from the Second World War was discovered. This discovery quickly turned out to be serious: the bomb was equipped with an intact head fuse, which meant that immediate defusing was necessary Tixio reported.
The Emsland/County of Bentheim police station quickly took over the coordination of the operation and worked closely with the city of Meppen and the Lower Saxony explosive ordnance disposal service. Emergency services, fire departments and other authorities were also involved in the measure. To ensure the safety of the exponents and residents, a security radius of 1,000 meters was established around the defusing site.
Security precautions and evacuation
Around 4,200 residents, including residents of a nearby retirement home, had to be evacuated. The evacuation center found accommodation in the Anne Frank School, where the affected people were able to reach safety. The prevention measures show once again how important a quick response is in such emergencies Regional today highlights.
The defusing itself began around 11:00 p.m. after all buildings in the restricted area were thoroughly checked and it was possible to ensure that no people were in the danger zone. These extensive measures are necessary because it is estimated that there are between 100,000 and 300,000 tons of unexploded bombs in the ground in Germany, of which around 5,000 have to be cleared every year. A fact that is becoming known not only through the analysis of aerial photographs, but also through chance finds like these here at construction sites ARD alpha reported.
The all-clear came quickly after the successful defusing, and all lockdown measures were lifted by 12:20 a.m. Residents were able to return to their homes after another safety-related incident was averted without serious consequences. It is a successful operation that shows how important training and cooperation between the various services are in such critical situations.