Cologne is head: greatest evacuation since World War II!

Cologne is head: greatest evacuation since World War II!

in Cologne has been the greatest evacuation since World War II: around 20,000 people have to leave their apartments and offices while a world war bomb is being defused. The measures begin tomorrow morning (June 4, 2025) at 8 a.m. . Not only the old town is affected, but also large parts of the Deutz district, where the bomb was found. According to Deutschlandfunk , several important facilities such as hotels, museums and retirement homes have to be cleared.

This also includes the train station Deutz , several tram stops as well as the three Rheinbrücken : The Hohenzollern, Deutzer and Severinsbrücke. The shipping on the Rhine is temporarily stopped, and one can assume serious impairments of long -distance transport.

evacuation and closures

Already in the evening hours of June 3, 2025, the discovery of three World War II bombs in Deutz was announced. Two of them weighed 20 hundredweight , while the third weighed. These bombs are provided with surcharge, which makes the urgency of the defusing clear, reports the Tagesschau .

The evacuation affects a large part of the city center, including the shopping zone and more than 58 hotels . Numerous facilities such as the Eduardus hospital as well as care and old people's homes are also affected. The Philharmonie has already canceled a concert by the WDR symphony orchestra, and the Lanxess-Arena has moved the appearance of the comedian Tedros "Teclebrhan to Sunday. Pleasing for wedding fairies: 15 weddings , which should take place in the historic town hall, are also laid according to Porz.

practical information for those affected

Numerous will be available for the affected citizens from 8 a.m. , including in the exhibition hall 10.1 and the Humboldtstraße vocational college. There is no thought of pets, and it is recommended to avoid the city center on Wednesday. For information, a citizens' phone is available at 0221/221-0 or 115 , while the Deutsche Bahn with the first trains that fail from 8 a.m.

The Cologne authorities use the past experience. In the May 2025 , around 5,200 people had to be evacuated in Hardefuststrasse to defuse a five-center bomb , such as t-online . This measure had to take place at night because a heavy vehicle had driven over it and required the highest hurry. The evacuation at that time was already a big effort, but the upcoming measures present the city with new challenges.

The city of Cologne and the responsible authorities are working hard to make the situation as safe and smooth as possible. We keep you up to date on the developments of this exciting situation.