Suche
Mein Konto
Cologne experiences the largest evacuation since the war due to the discovery of bombs!
On June 4, 2025, Cologne will experience the largest evacuation since the Second World War due to bomb defusal at the Deutzer shipyard.
Cologne experiences the largest evacuation since the war due to the discovery of bombs!
A historic event is taking place in Cologne today: the largest evacuation since the Second World War is imminent. The reason for this is the discovery of three World War II bombs that were discovered on June 2, 2025 during construction work at the Deutz shipyard. According to WDR there are two American 20-hundredweight bombs and one 10-hundredweight bomb, the defusing of which is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. today by the Düsseldorf district government's explosive ordnance disposal service is.
The evacuation will affect over 20,000 people - a large number of residents and professionals. Facilities such as the Eduardus Hospital, several retirement homes, schools, daycare centers and large event locations such as the Lanxess Arena and the Cologne Messe/Deutz train station are in the restricted area. The Severins and Hohenzollern Bridges as well as the Deutzer Bridge will also be closed, which will significantly change traffic in the greater Cologne area. “It’s all inconvenient, but safety comes first,” said a resident.
Evacuation centers and impairments
Evacuation centers have been set up to temporarily accommodate the affected citizens. Many are hoping for a quick return, but it is currently unclear when the defusing will finally be completed. While wedding ceremonies in the Cologne-Porz town hall are being maintained for couples who wanted to get married today, large events in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall and the Lanxess Arena have been canceled or postponed.
The circumstances of the bomb discovery in Cologne are comparable to other events in Germany, such as most recently in Teltow, where an aerial bomb from the Second World War also had to be defused. Many residents there were affected and they had to leave their buildings within a restricted area of 600 meters, according to n-tv. This similarity shows that the problem of historical war relics still has serious consequences today.
Economic News
Aside from the evacuation in Cologne, a lot has also happened on an economic level. The US has doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, worrying German steel producers. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) plans to travel to the USA this evening to deal with this issue. This could have long-term consequences for many companies in Germany, as the protective tariffs of 50 percent will significantly increase costs. At the same time, the federal government is planning tax relief for companies in order to mitigate the economic impact, which Köln.de further explains: “We have to get involved so that companies have a good hand again.”
While the people of Cologne prepare for the evacuation, it remains to be hoped that the bomb defusal will proceed without further complications. In addition to the safety challenges, a nationwide heat action day was also announced to raise awareness of the dangers of high temperatures - in keeping with the more current circumstances that will be in focus throughout the day.
Today is not only marked by fears and uncertainties, but also brings with it personal moments. Former football professional Lukas Podolski is celebrating his 40th birthday and is bringing a little joy to the tense situation. Even in such turbulent times, the people of Cologne are known for sticking together.