After three unexploded World War II bombs were found in the Deutz neighbourhood of Cologne on Monday, around 20 500 people were evacuated from a large area of the city centre so that experts could detonate them, on Wednesday, the 4th of June, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
The unexploded bombs are still dangerous, so the city has cordoned off a 1km radius zone, which it describes as “the largest operation since the end of World War II”.
Residents were urged to evacuate their homes, shops, hotels and schools, as well as a large hospital and the main railway station.
“If you refuse, we will remove you from your homes – by force if necessary – together with the police,” the authorities said. Residents were warned that if they refused to leave their homes, they could face heavy fines.
Some intensive care patients were evacuated from the hospital by ambulance.
The State Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service plans to neutralise one ten-tonne (10 000 kg) and two 20-tonne (20 000 kg) bombs, but this cannot be done until all residents have been evacuated from the area for their own safety, city officials said.
The evacuation began with officials arriving at each house to inform residents of the need to leave their homes.
Many streets in the city were unusually empty, as shops, restaurants and businesses were closed for the entire day.
The evacuation also affected cultural institutions, including the Philharmonic Hall and many museums, as well as government buildings, 58 hotels and nine schools.
Transport was severely disrupted, with all roads in the area closed, many trains cancelled and the Messe/Deutz railway station closed from 8 a.m. local time.
An der Deutzer Brücke in #Köln liegen drei Weltkriegsbomben, die heute entschärft werden sollen. Dafür müssen vorher rund 20.000 Menschen ihre Häuser und Wohnungen verlassen. Es wird eine der größten Evakuierung der Stadtgeschichte. @derspiegel pic.twitter.com/IjIKDCsIi4
— Lukas Eberle (@lukaseberle) June 4, 2025
The authorities have set up two temporary shelters for people who have nowhere to stay during the evacuation. Residents were asked to remain calm, take their identity documents and necessary medication with them, and take care of their pets.
Cologne Airport announced that flights would continue as normal, but that getting to the airport by train or car could be difficult.
For some people, the evacuation caused more than just inconvenience. According to local media reports, 15 couples were planning to get married in Cologne’s historic town hall, but the ceremonies were moved to another location in the city.