World War bomb - 10,000 Mainz residents forced to leave their homes due to bomb discovery
In Mainz, during construction works, a 500 kilogramme bomb from the Second World War was discovered. The British-origin explosive body still has an intact fuse and is to be defused on Thursday, as the city announced. A safety zone of 500 meters around the discovery site is being set up. Approximately 10,000 residents in this area were required to evacuate their homes by Thursday morning 9.00 AM. Affected are houses in the neighborhoods Hartenberg-Münchfeld and Neustadt.
The railway line near Mainz Hauptbahnhof towards Bingen and Koblenz, as well as a streetcar line, are located in the safety zone. Restrictions in local and rail transport must be expected. The SWR radio station in Mainz is also affected.
The bomb was found near the World Heritage Site Alter Jüdischer Friedhof, as reported. It is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe and houses nearly 1,700 historic gravestones.
The fuse of the dud is reportedly hard to access, so the ordnance disposal team needs to make further preparations for the disposal operation, the city reported. The discovery site is guarded, and there is immediate danger in the vicinity. The city is organizing transportation and temporary accommodation for those in need.
Statement by the City of Mainz
The explosive device was from the devastating Second World War, echoing the Consequences of war still affecting some regions. The discovery took place in Mainz, a city in Rhineland-Palatinate, near a significant World Heritage Site called Alter Jüdischer Friedhof. The safety measures include a 500-meter radius emergency zone, affecting railroad traffic and causing potential disruptions in traffic. Thousands of residents from Hartenberg-Münchfeld and Neustadt neighborhoods were advised to evacuate due to the Bomb find.
