### 20,000 Evacuated in Cologne After Discovery of WWII Bombs

In an unprecedented operation, the western German city of Cologne faced significant disruptions as authorities evacuated approximately 20,000 people following the discovery of three World War II bombs. The bombs were found in the Deutz district, situated across the Rhine from Cologne's historic center.

Among the explosives were two bombs weighing 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) and another 1,000-pound bomb, all of American manufacture. The large-scale excavation effort commenced on Monday when the bombs were first uncovered, leading to prompt action to ensure public safety.

The evacuation encompassed a broad area, affecting substantial parts of the city, including 58 hotels, two care homes, a hospital, museums, the town hall, and the railway station in Deutz. The precautionary measures also impacted several major roads and three bridges over the Rhine. Although Cologne Cathedral, one of the city's iconic landmarks, was nearby, it stood just outside the designated danger zone.

Despite significant logistical preparation, efforts to defuse the bombs faced delays. One resident in the old town resisted evacuation orders, necessitating intervention by public order officials, police, and the fire department to enforce compliance. This caused a hold-up in beginning the delicate defusal process.

Kai Kulschewski, leading the explosive ordnance disposal team from Düsseldorf, noted that while everything was initially proceeding as planned, all residents needed to be evacuated before the bomb defusal could start. He expressed hope that the operation would be completed within the day.

The emergency measures severely disrupted local transport, with Germany's national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, rerouting or canceling numerous train services. Road traffic in the area was also heavily impacted.

Cologne has a storied history of bomb defusions, being a major target during World War II. The city frequently revisits its tumultuous past, as seen in events like the "thousand-bomber raid" by the British Royal Air Force on May 31, 1942, which dropped 1,455 tons of bombs and wreaked widespread destruction.

In a statement, the City of Cologne underscored the operation's magnitude, labeling it the largest evacuation effort since the war's end. They highlighted collective hopes for a swift and safe defusal of the discovered bombs, adding another chapter to the city's long history of dealing with wartime relics.