Approximately 7,000 residents in Cologne, Germany, have been forced to leave their homes after the discovery of an unexploded bomb dating back to World War II. The 20-ton American-made aerial bomb, complete with a detonator, was uncovered during construction work in the Porz-Westhoven district.
According to Report, which cites Bild, authorities have advised all residents within a 1-kilometer radius to evacuate the area. The evacuation order affects not only the 7,000 residents but also patients at a nearby clinic, residents of a retirement home, and a freight station. Explosive ordnance disposal teams are currently on-site working to defuse the bomb.
This incident marks the third time in the past week that Cologne has dealt with the discovery and defusal of WWII-era bombs. During the final stages of World War II, it is estimated that over 2 million bombs of various sizes were dropped on Germany, with 10-20% of them failing to detonate.