Cologne stands still: major evacuation due to bomb defusal on Wednesday!

Cologne stands still: major evacuation due to bomb defusal on Wednesday!

There is a big challenge ahead in Cologne: on Wednesday, June 4th, a bomb defusal will take place in the heart of the city. This measure became necessary after several unexploded bombs from World War II were discovered. In total there are two American 20 hundredweight bombs and one American ten hundredweight bomb, which are equipped with impact detonators. Express reports that a comprehensive evacuation and exclusion area will be set up for this purpose.

The first evacuation bell ringing begins at 8 a.m. This not only includes the entire old town of Cologne, but also three Rhine bridges and the popular Lanxess Arena. At the same time, a large part of the city center is cordoned off. However, Cologne Cathedral remains open to visitors, while the main train station is not within the evacuation radius. If you want to travel by train, you should be aware that the Hohenzollern Bridge will be closed during the defusing and connections via this important junction are not possible.

Extensive evacuation measures

The evacuation affects no fewer than 58 hotels and numerous restaurants. From 8am on Wednesday, road closures will be in effect and people will be required to leave the evacuation area. If you refuse, you risk being evicted by the police. In this tense situation, the city of Cologne is organizing a citizens' hotline that can be reached on 0221/221-0 or 115. Here, those affected can receive up-to-date information and find out where emergency accommodation is available.

Deutsche Bahn is reporting massive disruption to long-distance traffic: among other things, the stops in Cologne Deutz/Tief will be canceled from 8 a.m., and well-known long-distance trains such as the ICE Sprinter between Cologne and Berlin are also severely affected. The Cologne transport company (KVB) expects significant disruptions to city traffic, especially for the light rail lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 14 and 17 as well as for bus lines. The KVB appeals to largely avoid the city center area on Wednesday, as most buses and trains will not stop during the evacuation.

Think outside the box

The challenges posed by such an evacuation are not unknown. The DRK Gladbeck experienced similar scenarios in August 2017, when a 5-quintal bomb was discovered there and evacuation measures were necessary. In such cases, the Red Cross has shown how important close communication is between the head of operations and the DRK operational staff in order to reach people who are at risk of health and transport them safely. [Lokalkompass](https://www.lokalkompass.de/gladbeck/c-vereine-ehrenamt/drk-gladbeck-im-satz-evakuierungsmassnahme-in-gladbeck-brauck-im- framing-einer-bombentschaerfung_a781726) has reported in detail on these operations.

In the coming days, the city of Cologne will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of its citizens. Successfully defusing the bombs will depend on the efficient coordination of all authorities involved. Anyone moving or planning to travel within the evacuation radius should always keep an eye on the latest information and prepare for changes in traffic.