Massive evacuation in Cologne: World War II bomb discovered near university clinic!

Massive evacuation in Cologne: World War II bomb discovered near university clinic!

There are currently major challenges facing the authorities and the population in Cologne. An American five hundredweight World War II bomb with a rear impact detonator was found at the Cologne University Hospital on July 12th. The site of the discovery is in the immediate vicinity of the clinic, which has major consequences for the city. [24rhein] reports that the bomb will be defused on Thursday, July 17, 2025, which will result in a comprehensive evacuation.

In total, around 7,500 people are affected by the evacuation, including a large proportion of the university hospital. The evacuation radius is 400 meters, which is why many residents and hospital employees have to leave their usual four walls. To ensure everyone's safety, parking bans will be introduced in the affected areas. These have been in effect since July 15, 2025, while in container areas they were already set up from July 14, 2025. Possible tree pulls to improve visibility and safety are also currently being considered.

Clinic operations and support for evacuees

The university clinic will stop all outpatient treatment on July 17th and an admission freeze will be issued for planned inpatient admissions. According to [UK Cologne], patients will be informed by the responsible departments. A municipal contact point will be set up in the Theodor-Heuss-Realschule for the affected residents, which will open at 9 a.m. on the day of the evacuation. On this occasion, they are asked to bring important items such as ID, medication and baby food. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed. People with health restrictions or mobility problems should wait for support from the public order office.

When it comes to transport connections, the people of Cologne have to adapt to numerous restrictions. KVB traffic in the affected area will be severely affected. Although tram line 9 will continue to run, it is not possible to get on or off at the stops within the evacuation radius. As road closures apply to all road users, it is strongly recommended that alternative routes be used.

Large-scale evacuation measures and their background

This measure is part of the far-reaching efforts to take the safety of the Cologne population into account. There have been major evacuation operations in the city in the past, such as the defusing of several bombs within a 1,000-meter radius around the Deutzer shipyard. According to [ZDF], over 20,000 people had to leave their homes at the time, and even important traffic routes such as the Hohenzollern Bridge were closed. Such measures are necessary because 1,500 to 2,000 bombs from the Second World War are discovered in North Rhine-Westphalia every year, including several large calibers.

The city administration and the university clinic work closely with the explosive ordnance disposal service of the Düsseldorf district government to ensure that the defusal process runs smoothly. However, the challenges that arise should not be underestimated. We will closely monitor the development of the situation and inform the public of all relevant information in a timely manner.

For everyone affected, it is now time to stay calm and be prepared, because a major evacuation operation is imminent. Life in Cologne is temporarily turned upside down, but safety comes first - not just in the hospital, but for everyone who lives nearby.