1.8-tonne British bomb of WWII forces mass evacuation from German city of Koblenz

BERLIN, Germany (Dec. 04) – Can you guess what might be the reason behind the evacuation of 45,000 residents, nearly half of the total population, of the German city of Koblenz?

1.8-ton British bomb forces mass evacuation from German city of Koblenz

There was no earthquake, no thunderstorm, no wildfire; but it was a 1.8-ton World War II era bomb which led to this mass evacuation. Still confused? Let me explain in detail.

According to details; a gigantic British bomb, dropped during World War II, was discovered in Rhine River, rather fortunately because of the fall of water level in Rhine due to lack of rain. Another 275-pound bomb dropped there by US forces during World War II, was also discovered in the Rhine river.

The bomb could cause massive destruction if exploded; therefore, city administration has already evacuated the residents within the radius of almost 2-km as the enormous British 1.8-tonne bomb would be defused overnight. Seven nursing homes, two hospitals and a prison also had to be evacuated.

It's one of Germany's biggest bomb-related evacuations since the war ended, and some 2,500 police officers, firefighters and paramedics were on duty across the city to secure the operation.

Further as a precautionary measure; train and road traffic in the area, about 130 kilometer north-west of Frankfurt, has been closed down.

Finding unexploded bombs dropped by the World War II Allies over Germany is common even more than 65 years after the end of WWII. The explosives are normally defused or brought to a controlled explosion without causing injuries.