Huge evacuation in Cologne: 20,000 people affected by bomb clearance!

Huge evacuation in Cologne: 20,000 people affected by bomb clearance!

In Cologne, where old stories and modern lifestyles meet, the population is currently facing a historical challenge. On June 4, 2025, around 20,000 people have to leave their homes and offices due to the defusing of World War II bombs. The evacuation affects the entire old town and large parts of the Deutz district on the right bank of the Rhine. The affected residents were informed at an early stage and are now faced with the task of evacuating their houses in a timely manner. A visibly tense climate prevails in the city, which is preparing for the largest evacuation operation since the Second World War. Loud Deutschlandfunk The entire old town is being evacuated, which affects not only private households, but also numerous hotels, museums and social institutions such as retirement homes and daycare centers.

How did this massive evacuation even happen? On June 3, 2025, a group of three World War II bombs was discovered in the Deutz district. The largest of them are two American 20-can bombs, accompanied by a 10-cw bomb, all of which were equipped with impact detonators. In view of this impending danger, immediate measures were taken. On Thursday, the day of the evacuation, several important roads and even three Rhine bridges - the Hohenzollern, Deutzer and Severins bridges - will be closed to traffic. The Cologne Messe/Deutz train station will also not be accessible. These measures lead to significant disruptions in long-distance traffic, such as daily news reported.

The impact on public life

The effects of the evacuation are felt everywhere. The Philharmonic has already canceled a concert by the WDR Symphony Orchestra, while the Lanxess Arena has postponed the appearance of comedian Tedros “Teddy” Teclebrhan until Sunday. In addition, 15 weddings that were planned in the historic town hall have to be relocated to Porz. RTL Deutschland has even decided to relocate live broadcasts to Berlin while employees work in the mobile office. Various contact points have been set up for the affected area, including exhibition hall 10.1 and the vocational college on Humboldtstrasse, although no access for pets. Anyone who ignores the city's advice and does not leave the evacuation area in time must expect to be evicted by the police.

The Cologne Transport Company (KVB) also warns citizens to avoid the city center on Wednesday. Restrictions on various light rail lines and bus lines are expected. Deutsche Bahn is also reporting disruptions in long-distance traffic, with some trains between Düsseldorf and Frankfurt not stopping at Cologne/Messe Deutz Tief. Particularly worrying was the fact that in an earlier discovery on May 26, 2025, around 5,200 people had to be evacuated because of a five hundredweight bomb. This action resulted in a quick evacuation because a heavy tracked vehicle had driven over the unexploded bomb and required quick action T Online reported.

Today will be an unforgettable experience for many Cologne residents - a challenge that will test the city's community spirit. While everyone hopes to defuse the dangerous relics of the past, citizens are aware of the responsibility they share. Let's hope that everything goes well and the city can quickly return to its everyday life.