Two World War II bombs found in Berlin, nearly 20,000 people evacuated from their homes

(Patria) - Nearly 20,000 people will have to leave their homes in Berlin today after two unexploded bombs from World War II were discovered. This is the situation that has caused serious unrest in the German metropolis, reports the British Telegraph.

On Thursday evening, government buildings and embassies were closed, and around 7,500 residents had to evacuate the Fischerinsel district on the River Spree because, according to an emergency warning from German media, they were in "mortal danger" from a possible explosion.

The police confirmed that the object found in the river was indeed a bomb, and then went door to door, urging citizens to evacuate immediately.

This is the second such incident in just two days. On Wednesday, a bomb from the 1940s, weighing about 100 kilograms, was found in the Spandau district of West Berlin, and it should also be deactivated on Friday. This will require the evacuation of another 12,000 people.

A 500-meter security zone has been established in the immediate vicinity of the bomb found in the River Spree in a densely populated area, encompassing the city council, several government buildings, and the Chinese embassy. The police shared a map of the area on social media and called on citizens to avoid it. Expert teams will attempt to deactivate the bomb before residents return home.

The Mitte district, popular with tourists, is home to many museums and attractions. City authorities have opened a shelter for evacuees in the town hall building, and another shelter will be set up in a nearby school, the fire department announced.

- We just want to sleep, this is unbearable - said one father, holding a sleeping child, reported Tagesspiegel, as quoted by the British Telegraph. Another city official tried to calm citizens by saying they would "be home for breakfast."

Once the evacuation is complete, police will use forensics to assess whether and when the bomb can be deactivated. But since the bomb was found four meters underwater and its condition is unknown, police warn that the task will be extremely complex.

- It will most likely have to be deactivated quickly and on the spot - said a spokesman for the Berlin police.

Finding explosive remnants from World War II in Germany is not uncommon - unexploded bombs "surface" almost daily during construction work on roads, bridges, or fiber optic cables. In the state of North Rhine-Westphalia alone, about 1,600 of them were deactivated in 2024, reported Deutsche Welle.

The fire department said that explosive ordnance disposal experts discovered the bomb near the Mühlendamm lock during routine "investigative work." The area was immediately cordoned off, river traffic was halted, and disruptions to public transport and road traffic are expected.

It is not excluded that life in the affected part of the city will return to normal in a few days. Recall, Cologne had to evacuate more than 20,000 people earlier this year after three bombs from the 1940s were discovered at a construction site.