In Cologne, Germany, approximately 20,000 people have been evacuated following the discovery of three unexploded World War II bombs.
According to Mail Online, a significant portion of the city center has been cordoned off as experts prepared to defuse the explosives on Wednesday morning.
These US-manufactured weapons, which have remained undetected for 80 years, consist of two 90-kilogram bombs and one 45-kilogram bomb. They were discovered in the Deutz borough of central Cologne on Monday.
The magnitude of the explosives necessitated the sealing off of a 1,000-meter danger zone, prompting residents and business owners to evacuate the area from 8 a.m. local time today.
The evacuation zone encompasses the entire old part of Cologne, including 58 hotels, three bridges, the town hall, the train station, several museums, a hospital, and two care homes.
German broadcaster RTL was also evacuated this morning mid-air.
A TV presenter apologized for any inconvenience, stating, “Excuse me if we’re a bit rushed. We’re already on the go,” before the program ‘Punkt 8’ was canceled.
As the operation continues, two shelters have been established for those affected. Additionally, sports halls and churches outside the city center have been transformed into support centers for the evacuated individuals.
Local transportation has also been disrupted, with rail and bus networks coming to a halt.
This operation is widely regarded as the largest post-war bomb detonation ever recorded.
During World War II, at least 1.5 million bombs were dropped on the German city.
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