Cologne-Deutz: 20,000 people have to be evacuated due to bombs!

Cologne-Deutz: 20,000 people have to be evacuated due to bombs!

The situation is tense in Cologne-Deutz: three World War II bombs have recently been found, which has resulted in the greatest bombing evacuation since the Second World War. On Monday, June 2, 2025, exploratory work in the area of ​​the Deutzer Werft, south of the Deutzer Brücke, came across two large American 20-hundredweight bombs and a ten-center bomb, each equipped with surcharges. These bombs have to be defused on Wednesday, June 4, and the city has already started extensive measures to protect the public. According to [Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger] (https://www.ksta.de/koeln-deutz-stadt-plant-groesste- groesste-bombenvakuction-Seit-Warendend-1036464), around 20,000 people within a radius of 1 kilometer must be evacuated.

When are the first roadblocks on? The first closures will be set up at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning. More detailed information about which streets are affected will be published on Tuesday. The evacuation measures also concern critical infrastructures such as the Eduardus hospital and two nursing and old people's homes that need more time for evacuation to ensure that most people are in good time.

unmistakable consequences for the entire region

The effects of this evacuation should not be underestimated. Numerous cultural institutions such as the Lanxess Arena, the Musical Dome, the Cologne Philharmonic, the Chocolate Museum and the Museum Ludwig are in the danger area and could not be opened on Wednesday. Additional problems threaten because events such as the musical "Moulin Rouge" and a concert by the WDR symphony orchestra may fail if the defusing is not completed by 4 p.m.

The Cologne Verkehrsbetriebe (KVB) and Deutsche Bahn expect massive restrictions. Several light rail lines, including lines 1, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 14, will probably not be able to run. The Deutzer Bahnhof is also affected, while the main station is not in the evacuation area, but southern access over the Hohenzollern Bridge must be closed. This situation can have a significant impact on local and long-distance transport, informed Radio Erft.

preparations and other measures

The city has already taken precautions to facilitate the affected citizen: inside the evacuation. The hotels in the area, including well -known houses such as the Hyatt, Maritim and Dorint, plan to transport their guests into other accommodations. Mutual help is also used to master the challenge. In addition, there will be contact points for those affected, but they still have to be announced.

The preparations for the defusing of the bombs also require the cooperation of various departments, as duisburg.de. The ordnance disposal service will intervene to clarify which measures are required. Information that can influence the duration of the defusing include the condition of the bombs and weather conditions.

The situation in Cologne-Deutz once again shows how important it is to act quickly and safely in crisis situations. The city administration and the responsible authorities work closely together to prepare everything for the safe defusing of the bombs and to protect as many people as possible.