Cologne Evacuates 20,000 After World War 2 Bombs Found

Thousands of residents, workers, and tourists were evacuated from central Cologne, Germany, on Wednesday following the discovery of three unexploded World War II bombs — marking the city’s largest such evacuation since the war ended.

City authorities said the evacuation zone, covering a 1-kilometer radius, includes parts of Cologne’s historic Old Town and the busy Deutz district along the Rhine River. The operation affected approximately 20,500 people, including residents, hotel guests, and employees across offices, shops, and institutions.

The bombs — American-made and equipped with impact fuses — were uncovered during construction work in Deutz on Monday. A specialized bomb disposal team was scheduled to defuse them later on Wednesday.

“This is only possible if all affected individuals leave their homes or workplaces early and remain outside the evacuation zone,” city officials urged in a statement, calling for full cooperation to ensure safety and minimize delays.

The evacuation area includes one hospital, two retirement homes, nine schools, 58 hotels, and several museums, highlighting the scale and complexity of the operation.

Germany regularly uncovers unexploded ordnance during construction projects, a legacy of the intense Allied bombing campaigns that devastated many cities during World War II. While such evacuations are routine, Cologne’s case stands out for its scale and central location.

Train travel was severely disrupted as national rail operator Deutsche Bahn rerouted or cancelled multiple services through the city, which is home to over a million people.

Officials hope to complete the bomb defusal and safely reopen the area by the end of the day.