Rescue operation in Cologne: 7,500 residents evacuated because of bomb!

Rescue operation in Cologne: 7,500 residents evacuated because of bomb!

Today, Cologne-Lindenthal is all about security. An American five hundredweight aerial bomb from the Second World War was discovered near the Cologne University Hospital, and the responsible authorities are preparing to defuse it. Tens of thousands of tons of unexploded bombs from the war are lying in the ground in Germany, and the city of Cologne is now forced to quickly get another one under control. Tagesschau reports that an evacuation radius of 400 meters was set up for this purpose, which affects around 7,500 residents and parts of the university clinic.

The emergency services get to work with large contingents: The evacuation begins at 9 a.m. with the public order office ringing the bell. This precautionary measure is necessary because not only residents but also important facilities such as the university clinic are affected. Outpatient treatments must be canceled this Thursday. The university clinic has already made all preparations since last Saturday in order to proceed in a timely and efficient manner. Large containers have been set up to protect the buildings and parking bans in the evacuation area have been in force for several days. T-Online added that the contact point for the evacuated residents will be set up in the Theodor-Heuss-Realschule on Euskirchener Straße.

Preparations and traffic information

Continuing consideration for safety: Residents are urged to arrange a location in advance and take their most important belongings and medications with them. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed in the indoor areas of the contact point. Transport options are available for sick or disabled people to take them to the drop-in center or to the hospital.

But that's not all. Commuters and drivers should pay attention! The KVB plans to keep line 9 in operation for as long as possible. But there will be interruptions at stops within the evacuation radius. It is recommended that you avoid the evacuation area as numerous road closures are in effect. ARD alpha points this out that the transport of unexploded ordnance is extremely dangerous and therefore often has to be defused on site.

The dangers of unexploded bombs

Unexploded bombs from the Second World War are anything but rare. An estimated 100,000 to 300,000 tons of such monsters from the past are buried in Germany. Around 5,000 of them have to be cleared every year because they can be discovered during construction work or by accident. These bombs are often equipped with dangerous ignition mechanisms that make defusing them a challenge. The progress in defusing depends heavily on the course of the evacuation and cannot provide a more precise time. After the detonators are removed, the explosives are destroyed in a burst-proof oven, but every active bomb makes the heart beat faster.

Things remain exciting and challenging at the same time for all Cologne residents today. The authorities are working hand in hand to take all safety precautions and defuse the situation as smoothly as possible. We will continue to follow the current developments and inform you about the progress via live ticker.