A British World War II unexploded bomb discovered in Cologne-Kalk on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, has triggered planned evacuations and road closures across the district. According to the City of Cologne, municipal authorities and the explosive ordnance disposal service scheduled the defusing operation for Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Bomb Discovery at Cologne-Kalk Freight Yard
The ordnance was uncovered during routine exploratory work at the Deutsche Bahn freight station in the Cologne-Kalk district. According to official municipal statements, the device is a British five-centner aerial bomb equipped with a percussion fuze dating back to the Second World War. The Kampfmittelbeseitigungsdienst Rheinland, part of the Düsseldorf district government, established a formal danger zone with a 300-meter radius surrounding the find.
Evacuation Zone and Traffic Restrictions
The Ordnungsamt initiated local evacuations beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. According to the City of Cologne, approximately 700 residents are directly affected by the safety measures. The evacuation zone encompasses portions of the Germania-Siedlamiento in the Höhenberg district, the DB freight terminal, a local TÜV facility, and the B55a urban highway alongside the Kalk Tunnel.
Authorities closed the Kalk Tunnel to vehicle traffic on Wednesday morning to facilitate the disarmament work. Regional transport provider Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe (KVB) announced that bus lines 151, 152, and 153 experienced route adjustments. The city government directed residents to check the official KVB website for real-time transit schedule modifications, as widespread street closures created significant traffic delays throughout the area.
Support Services for Affected Residents
The City of Cologne established a temporary assistance center for displaced individuals at the Kalk Bürgeramt, located at Kalker Hauptstraße 247, opening concurrently with the evacuation at 9 a.m. Municipal officials confirmed that pets, including dogs, are not permitted inside the civilian reception center.