Three hospitals in Cologne evacuated after discovery of World War II bomb
Cologne, October 12 (Hibya) - Authorities in the German city of Cologne have evacuated three hospitals and thousands of homes after an unexploded World War II bomb was found during construction work on a new medical campus.
The 1,000kg US air bomb, equipped with a front and rear impact detonator, is expected to be defused on Friday.
A complex evacuation procedure had been planned since excavation work began at the site about six months ago due to legitimate fears that unexploded ordnance could be found.
A 500-metre evacuation zone has been established around the area where the bomb was found. City officials said experts had told them there could be another eight unexploded aircraft bombs in the area but that further excavation would be needed to determine this.
Authorities described the evacuation operation as the largest and most comprehensive operation of its kind since 1945. It involved about 1,300 city officials, police, firefighters, and emergency services personnel, a full-scale local media campaign, and 800 volunteers who knocked on doors to persuade residents to leave their homes.
Albania News Agency
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