Great evacuation in Cologne: 20,000 people because of bombing!

Great evacuation in Cologne: 20,000 people because of bombing!

Köln, Deutschland - On Wednesday, June 4, Cologne will be affected by one of the greatest evacuations since the end of the Second World War. Around 20,000 people have to leave their apartments and offices due to the defusing of three World War II bombs. This measure follows the discovery of the explosives, which were found on Monday, June 2, during construction work in the city center. Two of the bombs weigh 20 hundredweight, while the third has a weight of 10 hundredweight. This upcoming evacuation concerns a widely blocked area that comprises the entire old town of Cologne, including significant sights such as the Museum Ludwig and the Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, and several transport connections such as the Hohenzollernbrücke and the Köln-Messe/Deutz.

The comprehensive security measures also lead to the closure of 58 hotels, a hospital as well as several nursing and old people's homes and many schools and daycare centers. Numerous restaurants will also be in the evacuation zone, which increases the challenge for the citizens concerned. These extensive precautions are necessary to ensure public security during the dangerous defusing, since the bombs from World War II are also often found in Cologne

safety precautions and logistical measures

The RTL transmitter is also affected by the measures. On the evacuation day, the team, which normally works on site, will act from a mobile office, since programs such as "Point 12", "RTL Aktuell" and "RTL Nachtjournal" will be sent from the City City Studio in Berlin. The Cologne fire brigade supports the regulatory office in the evacuation of the affected quarters and has set up contact points for the people who had to leave their apartments at short notice. Such a point of contact was set up in the gymnasium of the Humboldstrasse vocational college, where those affected can be accommodated.

Although high security precautions are taken, the effects are noticeable for many residents. Some people spent the night in the gym, while other alternative accommodations found. A patient transport was provided for sick or handicapped people to bring them home safely. The residents are encouraged to take important objects such as ID cards, medication and baby food, but taking pets into the interior of the contact point is not permitted.

return of the residents

After the defusing, the residents can be expected to return to their apartments as soon as possible as soon as the road closures are canceled. The release of the bombs found was released on Tuesday morning. The evacuation itself lasted about six hours, while the ordnance disposal service had the situation under control. The entire mission shows the continuous efforts of the cities to ensure that residents and public security are guaranteed at any time, especially in areas with such a complex history as Cologne, where bombing from World War II are not uncommon. Derwesten reports on the extensive measures that are necessary to guarantee the security of all citizens during this evacuation, and Süddeutsche emphasizes that this has been the largest evacuation measure in Cologne since the end of the Second World War. Further information can also be found in the WDR , which describes the logistics and the course of the use in detail.