World War II bomb in Kiel-Dietrichsdorf: Evacuation successfully completed!

World War II bomb in Kiel-Dietrichsdorf: Evacuation successfully completed!

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023, a bomb disposal in Kiel-Dietrichsdorf caused a lot of excitement. A World War II bomb weighing 250 kilograms was discovered on “Zum Kesselort” street and had to be quickly defused. Loud Tixio the Integrated Regional Control Center Central informed the population about the successful defusing and the lifting of the warnings for residents. As of 2 p.m., the Dietrichsdorf volunteer fire department was already in action and preparing an emergency shelter.

The defused bomb affected around 19 addresses in the evacuation area, including some allotments. Around ten residents had to leave their homes for a short time while shipping traffic in the Kiel Fjord was suspended during the work. The last departure of the F1 ferry line at 1 p.m. was the only way for travelers to get to safety before the closure, the company said NDR firmly.

View of Cologne

So while Kiel was busy defusing bombs, there were also some inconveniences in Cologne. On the same day, 15 couples were registered to get married in the historic town hall, but here too an unexploded bomb ruined the wedding date. The weddings had to be moved to the Porz district at short notice WDR reported. From 8 a.m. bell rings were set up and road closures were made.

At 1:30 p.m. the security service checked the streets in the evacuation area, which meant that local public transport was also massively affected. The Cologne transport company reported disruptions in operations and advised citizens to avoid the city center area.

Vital care measures

In Cologne, security of supply was still a priority during the events. The control room of the coastal power plant remained manned by three employees, so that the energy supply was not at risk despite the evacuation. However, around 80 employees of the power plant had to leave the site from 3 p.m., the fire department said.

Overall, the evacuation in Kiel was more complicated than initially planned, as more than 11,500 people had to leave their homes. With a clear plan and the cooperation of the emergency services, the bomb was finally defused on a pontoon.

These incidents make it clear that the aftereffects of the Second World War are still noticeable today and require quick action by authorities and the population. Monitoring and early evacuation when unexploded bombs are discovered therefore remains a key concern in our cities.