Cologne in a state of emergency: 20,000 people affected due to bombing evacuation!

Cologne in a state of emergency: 20,000 people affected due to bombing evacuation!

Köln, Deutschland - On Wednesday, June 3, 2025, extensive evacuations are announced in Cologne. Around 20,000 people have to leave their apartments and jobs to enable three World War II bombs to be defused, which were discovered in the city on Monday. This measure is considered the largest since the end of World War II, as the city of Cologne announced. Large parts of the old town, several museums, including the Museum Ludwig and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, as well as 58 hotels, restaurants and facilities of public life are particularly affected.

like Exxpress.at, the area of ​​evacuation will also include the Köln-Messe/Deutz station, the Kölner Rathaus and two nursing and old people's homes. The work on the defusing is accompanied by the blocking of three Rhine bank bridges and massive restrictions in the public transport network. Cologne transport companies in particular and Deutsche Bahn will have to adapt their timetables to the new situation, although the exact effects are not yet completely foreseeable.

television station RTL and other facilities affected

At the same time, the evacuation also means restrictions for the television station RTL, which will be broadcast from Berlin on this day. Employees who normally work on site in Cologne have to switch to a mobile office. “Point 6” and “Point 7” are sent live from Deutz, while the broadcast “Point 8” is no longer necessary. NTV will also move its productions and work at another location.

The Bildungslandschaft The city is also severely affected because nine schools and many daycare centers have to be evacuated. The entire area of ​​the old town of Cologne falls into the blocking radius, which significantly limits the accessibility of various facilities. The City of Cologne's citizens' phone will be active during this period to answer questions from the citizens concerned.

background of the bomb defusing

The defused bombs consist of two American 20-centers bombs and an American ten-century bomb, all of which are provided with service tiders. Due to the local history and the massive bombing during the Second World War, such missions in Cologne are not unusual, but they are a significant challenge for the city and its residents. The reporting of the Süddeutsche emphasizes that the entire city administration also faces greater challenges and plans to comply with security measures.

The evacuation measures officially start on Wednesday at 8:00 a.m. The first complications in relation to local transport are already foreseeable, and Cologne Central Station will only be reached to a limited extent. The population is asked to find out more about the website of the city of Cologne and find alternative ways to ensure security.