Cologne Evacuates for WWII Bomb Disposal

Cologne authorities conducted a controlled detonation of a 1-ton US WWII bomb after failing to defuse it, marking the city's most complex bomb disposal operation since 1945. The bomb, found during construction for a new medical facility, led to the evacuation of three hospitals and around 10,000 residents within a 500-meter exclusion zone. The operation involved approximately 1,300 personnel, including police and volunteers, and was meticulously planned over six months due to the potential for unexploded ordnance in the area. Authorities have warned that additional unexploded bombs may still be present, necessitating further excavations. A specially upgraded 'safe house' was prepared to accommodate critically ill patients who could not be safely relocated. Cologne, heavily bombed during WWII, regularly faces similar evacuation challenges due to the presence of unexploded bombs.