Cologne stands still: Largest evacuation since the war due to bomb discovery!

Cologne stands still: Largest evacuation since the war due to bomb discovery!

There will be a massive evacuation operation in Cologne on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, which will have a major impact on life, especially in the Deutz district. The reason for this is three unexploded bombs from the Second World War that were discovered on Monday, June 2nd, during construction work at the Deutz shipyard. The explosive devices found were two American 20-pound bombs and one 10-pound bomb, all of which were equipped with impact detonators. The defusing is carried out by the Düsseldorf district government's explosive ordnance disposal service and is classified as the largest evacuation in Cologne since the end of the Second World War Express reported.

Around 20,500 residents and professionals have to leave their homes and jobs. The endangered area extends over a radius of 1,000 meters around the site and includes, among other things, important facilities such as the Cologne Messe/Deutz train station, the Lanxess Arena and the Eduardus Hospital. Numerous nursing homes, schools and daycare centers are particularly affected, which illustrates the dimension of the measure. Many popular points of contact in Cologne's old town, such as the Ludwig Museum and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, are also within this radius, reports Cologne.de.

Evacuation measures and contact points

In order to make the evacuation as smooth as possible, the city and aid organizations are setting up two contact points. The first is located on the right bank of the Rhine in exhibition hall 10.1, which can be easily reached via the east entrance. The second contact point is on the left bank of the Rhine in the vocational college on Humboldtstrasse, Pearlgraben 101 branch. Both contact points open at 8 a.m., at the same time as the evacuation begins. A shuttle service will also be set up to make access easier. The stops include central points such as Deutz-Mülheimer-Straße and Justinianstraße, reports South Germans.

Important information for evacuees should also be observed: They should definitely take their ID, urgently needed medication, money, keys and baby food with them. These measures are necessary to ensure everyone's safety. It is also advised to close windows and doors and preferably leave pets with friends or relatives, as this is usually not permitted in the contact points.

Restrictions on local public transport

The evacuations also have an impact on local public transport in Cologne. The Cologne transport company and Deutsche Bahn have already announced restrictions that also affect stops in the danger zone. The Severins and Hohenzollern Bridges as well as the Deutzer Bridge will be closed for the duration of the evacuation. However, the exact periods for the closures are not yet known.

Overall, the coming week will be a big challenge for many Cologne residents. As the city prepares to carry out this large-scale evacuation, it remains to be seen how all planning and safety precautions will be implemented. It shows once again that the city's history still has a noticeable impact today.