- Bomb disposal and evacuation in Dortmund
Defusal of a WWII bomb in Dortmund prompts evacuation of 1,300 people, including nursing home residents
Around 1,300 people, including residents of nursing homes, were evacuated ahead of the defusal of a World War II bomb in Dortmund. A city spokesperson confirmed this. The defusal was expected to take place around midday.
Two suspected unexploded ordnance points were discovered on the grounds of the Romberg Park prior to a city construction project. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the Arnsberg Regional Government conducted investigations at the sites early in the morning. A 250-kilogram American-made unexploded bomb with a fuse was deemed necessary for defusal. Consequently, the previously announced evacuations from the danger zone began at 10:00 AM. The second suspicion was not confirmed.
Two senior care facilities were affected by the evacuation, with approximately 300 people being taken to a care center, which also served as a gathering point for around 1,000 residents. However, the city had previously appealed to those affected to organize alternative accommodations for the day of the operation, if possible.
The duration of the defusal of the unexploded bomb was initially uncertain, according to the city of Dortmund. After the operation, people will be able to return to their homes. Traffic disruptions and detours were expected around the operation site. The Romberg Park and Dortmund Zoo remained closed.
Unexploded ordnance is regularly found in North Rhine-Westphalia. This is due to the fact that around half of the air raids in Germany during World War II were concentrated in today's NRW, the industrial heartland of the German Reich. Large cities on the Rhine and in the Ruhr region were frequent targets. Many bombs did not explode and are still buried in the ground. According to official figures, the number of discovered World War II bombs has decreased in recent years. In 2023, a total of 167 World War II bombs weighing at least 50 kilograms were discovered statewide, compared to 307 in 2019.
During the defusal process, the evacuated residents were kept updated on the situation by city authorities. Following a successful defusal, the evacuation order was lifted, allowing the evacuated individuals to return to their homes.
