On Thursday evening, thousands of people in central Berlin were instructed to evacuate due to the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in the Spree River. A security perimeter of 500 meters was established in the densely populated area, and police officers informed residents of the evacuation order by going door to door. Emergency overnight shelters were flooded with people seeking a place to stay, with lines forming at the town hall in Berlin Mitte and another shelter opening at a nearby school.
The affected neighborhood is also home to several embassies and city administration offices. The bomb was found during construction work near Fischerinsel and the practice of checking for unexploded ordnance is common in German cities before commencing large construction projects. Bomb disposal is expected to take place early Friday morning when divers will conduct a closer inspection. The bomb, which is covered in silt and slime, is located four meters underwater, making the operation more complicated.
Residents are anticipated to be allowed back to their homes on Friday morning. Until then, ship traffic on the Spree, subway line 2 service, and several streets will remain closed. This evacuation is considered one of the largest in Berlin in recent years.
(Edited by Roshni Majumdar)
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/germany-thousands-evacuated-in-berlin-after-wwii-bomb-find/a-74053192?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
