Cologne Sees Largest Evacuation Since WWII After Bomb Discovery
Around 20,500 people are being evacuated from central Cologne this week after the discovery of three unexploded bombs from World War II — marking the city’s largest evacuation since the end of the war.
The bombs, two 20-ton American devices and one 10-ton bomb, were found on Monday during construction work at the Deutz shipyard in the Deutz district. All three bombs are equipped with impact fuses and will be defused on Wednesday by bomb disposal experts from the Düsseldorf district government.
Authorities have established a one-kilometer exclusion zone around the site, which includes significant portions of Cologne’s Old Town and the Deutz district. Starting early Wednesday morning, emergency crews will go door-to-door asking residents and workers to leave the area.
Numerous key facilities are affected, including nine schools and daycare centers, parts of the city administration, the Eduardus Hospital, two nursing homes, the Cologne Trade Fair, and major cultural venues like Lanxess Arena, the Musical Dome, the Philharmonie, and Museum Ludwig. A total of 58 hotels and many restaurants also falls within the evacuation zone.
The evacuation is causing major disruptions to transportation across the city. Several tram and bus lines operated by KVB—including lines 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 14, and 17—are being interrupted or rerouted, with many stops in the affected area suspended. Deutsche Bahn has announced that Cologne Messe/Deutz station will close from 8 a.m. Wednesday, impacting both regional and long-distance services, including ICE routes to Berlin and Frankfurt. The Hohenzollern Bridge, a vital rail and road link across the Rhine, will also be closed, cutting off access to the main station from the east.
Significant road closures include the Hohenzollern, Deutz, and Severins bridges, with authorities warning of major traffic jams and urging commuters to avoid traveling through the city center. River traffic on sections of the Rhine will also be halted during the bomb defusal.
Personal plans have also been disrupted. Fifteen couples scheduled to marry on Wednesday at the city’s historic town hall in the Old Town have had their ceremonies relocated to the registry office in the Porz district, according to city officials.
For those who do not have alternative accommodation, the city has established two emergency contact points: Koelnmesse Hall 10.1 on the right bank of the Rhine, and Berufskolleg Humboldtstraße on the left bank. Both centers will open at 8 a.m., with free shuttle buses available to transport evacuees.
The discovery of wartime bombs remains a regular occurrence in Cologne, which was heavily bombed during World War II—resulting in the destruction of about 60 percent of the city. Construction work continues to uncover unexploded ordnance, most recently in late May. Despite the decades that have passed, these bombs remain volatile and dangerous.
City officials are urging residents to stay informed through official communication channels and to comply fully with evacuation and safety instructions.
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