Cologne Bomb Disposal Live update: 20,000 Evacuated, City in Lockdown
Abandoned Quarters: Emptiness in Cologne at 14:02
Cologne, Germany is experiencing a massive evacuation due to the discovery of three World War II bombs, marking the largest bomb disposal operation since the war's end. Bustling streets and shops are now eerily empty as residents flee the city. "My family and I are headed to my parents' place. We've been told to pack enough for a possible overnight stay," a Deutz resident shares with the local newspaper in the morning.
Now, it's a helicopter ride over a ghost town as ntv reporter Jan Heikrodt captures the sight of the deserted city center.
The homeless are also affected; the "Gulliver" homeless shelter, located within the restricted area, has had to shut its doors, leaving many homeless people scrambling to find shelter. Social worker Sebastian Ebert acknowledges the strain the evacuation has put on the homeless population.
Originally, 15 couples were planning to get married at the Historical Town Hall, but with the evacuation, they moved their ceremonies to the less picturesque Porz, disappointed but grateful for the alternative.
Kai Kulschewski, head of bomb disposal at the Düsseldorf Regional Government, assures that although the bombs present a danger, they're not cause for panic. There have been no reported cases of spontaneous detonation in North Rhine-Westphalia.
As of now, employees of the Ordnungsamt are going door-to-door to ensure all apartments are empty. Fortunately, residents have been cooperative so far, and no one has refused to evacuate, unlike in past evacuations.
Cologne is not the only city to face bomb disposal operations; Frankfurt am Main, Augsburg, Hannover, and Koblenz have all suffered similar experiences in the past.
Despite some disruptions, local businesses have shown their support, with the Gaffel am Dom, one of Cologne's most famous brewpubs, offering free Wi-Fi and welcome drinks to the evacuees.
Notably, even the RTL studios found themselves in the evacuation zone, causing temporary disruptions to their broadcasting schedule.
Cologne's cultural scene is also impacted, with museums, theaters, and concerts being canceled or postponed due to the restrictions.
As the day progresses, the city's atmosphere remains tense, but the resilience of Cologne's residents remains unwavering.
[Enrichment Data]- Cologne's history as a strategic location during World War II, coupled with the city's extensive bombing, has made bomb disposal operations a recurring challenge.- Thousands of bombs are defused annually in Germany as a whole, with Cologne facing challenges on occasion.- Evacuation procedures typically involve a warning, the evacuation of the affected area, closure of schools, hospitals, and transportation hubs, and intervention by trained bomb disposal teams. Post-operation, the city is cleared for return, and normal activities resume.
- In the middle of a city-wide evacuation, a community policy is being enforced, requiring residents to evacuate their homes due to the discovery of World War II bombs.
- Amidst the chaos, a local social worker, Sebastian Ebert, acknowledges the strain this event has put on homeless people, as shelters located within the restricted area have to shut their doors.
- As the bomb disposal operation continues, political discussions may arise regarding the allocation of resources and the effectiveness of these operations in modern-day Germany, particularly in relation to vocational training for future bomb disposal specialists using advanced technology.
