Cologne bombing: 20,000 people evacuated and train traffic paralyzed!

Cologne bombing: 20,000 people evacuated and train traffic paralyzed!

In Cologne, everything is all about a complicated defusing process: On June 4, 2025, three World War II bombs were discovered, which must now be defused. An estimated 20,000 citizens are affected by the evacuation, which must take place within a radius of one kilometer around the site, in Cologne-Deutz on the Deutzer shipyard. This measure, which started at 8 a.m., leads to far -reaching closures and impairments in the city.

Overall, there are two American 20-centers bombs and a ten-center bomb, all of them with service lifts. These bombs were discovered on Monday, June 2, 2025, while construction work. Immediate measures were necessary and the Ordnungsamt of the City of Cologne has taken all steps to ensure the safety of the population.

evacuation and traffic disorders

The evacuation of the affected areas has been running since the first few hours of the morning. Not only residential buildings, but also essential infrastructures such as the Eduardus Hospital, several old people's homes as well as schools and daycare centers are affected. The evacuation commands, supported by the Cologne fire brigade, work around the clock to ensure that all those affected are safe before the start of defusing.

But the effects of the security measures are not limited to the residents. The daily train traffic over the Hohenzollern Bridge is affected, and the railway has already announced far-reaching disturbances throughout North Rhine-Westphalia. The Köln/Deutz exhibition center also fails, while municipal local transport and shipping on the Rhine have to come to a standstill. Freight transport on the federal waterway Rhein is also affected.

comprehensive information for those affected

For the citizens who are in emergencies due to the evacuation, a contact point was set up in the gymnasium of the vocational college on Humboldstrasse. It is recommended that all evacuates take an ID card and urgently needed items such as medication or baby food. However, pets cannot be brought to the facility. In addition, a shuttle service is offered to safely bring those affected to their retreats, while sick or handicapped people are treated with patient transport.

The city of Cologne has provided additional information regarding roadblocks, public transport impairments and urban services on its website. During this critical phase, it is essential to stay well informed. The first FAQs have been available on the urban website since June 2, and updates can also be followed on Radio Cologne and the WDR.

The defusing of the bombs will only take place after the evacuation has been completed, which can take several hours depending on the situation. Until then, the security situation remains tense and we can only hope that everything will run smoothly so that people can return to their houses as quickly as possible.

Stay informed and safe, dear Cologne!

t-online.de reports about the situation and the corresponding measures.
stadt-koeln.de provides comprehensive information on evacuation and the expected restrictions.
WDR.de with current news up to date.