Germany: Thousands evacuated after Koblenz WWII bomb find

Officials in Germany’s western city of Koblenz say some 45,000 residents have to be evacuated from their homes as officials try to defuse a Second World War bomb discovered in the Rhine river.

City officials said today the massive British 1.8-ton bomb will be defused early Sunday, requiring all residents within a radius of about 1.2 miles from the bomb site to leave their homes for the day.

Officials say seven nursing homes, two hospitals and a prison are also being evacuated. Train and road traffic in the area, will come to a halt.

The bomb was found last week alongside a 275lb bomb dropped there by US forces during the war, after the Rhine’s water level fell due to lack of rain.