Cologne WWII Bomb Safely Detonated After Massive Evacuation Effort
The controlled detonation of a 1,000kg bomb necessitated the evacuation of three hospitals and thousands of residents in Cologne's largest operation of its kind since 1945.
- A 1,000kg American bomb from World War II was discovered during construction work in Cologne, leading to an extensive evacuation process.
- The operation involved evacuating 6,400 residents and three hospitals, including 650 patients, due to the bomb's proximity.
- Initial attempts to defuse the bomb were unsuccessful, necessitating a controlled explosion that required 150 tons of sand to mitigate blast effects.
- Intensive care patients unable to be moved were housed in a specially reinforced 'Safe House' on-site to ensure their safety during the operation.
- The evacuation and detonation operation, involving 1,300 personnel, was the most complex since the end of World War II, highlighting Cologne's ongoing challenges with unexploded ordnance.
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