Buildings across the center of the western city of Cologne have been evacuated after the discovery of three WWII bombs. The operation is one of the largest-ever in the city, where such unpleasant finds are commonplace.Large areas of the city center of Cologne were closed off on Wednesday as experts prepared to defuse three bombs left over from World War II, which ended 80 years ago.
The defusal operation in the city, which has seen plenty of them over the years, is one of the largest to be conducted there, with some 20,000 people ordered to leave the affected area.The evacuated area includes the entire old part of the city, 58 hotels, three Rhine bridges, the town hall, the railway station in the district of Deutz, which lies across the Rhine from the city center, museums, a hospital and two care homes.
The city’s major landmark, the Cologne Cathedral, is, however, situated just outside the danger area..Germany’s national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, has warned that many trains will be diverted or even canceled, and road traffic has also been severely disrupted.
The weapons — two 200-pound (90-kilogram) bombs and one 100-pound bomb, all manufactured in the US — were discovered in Deutz on Monday.Germany’s national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, has warned that many trains will be diverted or even canceled, and road traffic has also been severely disrupted.
The weapons — two 200-pound (90-kilogram) bombs and one 100-pound bomb, all manufactured in the US — were discovered in Deutz on Monday.
