Germany's Kiel on alert: Over 11,500 residents evacuated for WWII bomb disposal operation

More than 11,500 residents of the northern German city of Kiel were evacuated on April 23 in what authorities have confirmed as the largest bomb-related evacuation in the city in the past decade. 

The large-scale operation was carried out in the district of Dietrichsdorf after the discovery of a 250-kilogram British aerial bomb dating back to World War II, Caliber.Az reports, citing German media.

The unexploded ordnance was found near Johannisburger Straße during exploratory work by an explosive ordnance disposal company. Owing to the potential danger, authorities cordoned off an area with a 1,000-meter radius around the site. An emergency shelter was opened at Ellerbek School on Klausdorfer Weg to accommodate affected residents, with around 160 people making use of the facility, according to NDR.

Though the evacuation was initially scheduled to be completed by 12 p.m., delays pushed the clearance efforts back by two hours. Police, fire services, and drones conducted thorough sweeps of the restricted zone until 2 p.m. to ensure no one remained. Only then could the bomb disposal unit commence its work, which included the possibility of a controlled partial detonation.

Officials described the condition of the bomb as relatively stable, which allowed the team to proceed cautiously with defusing operations. Police also noted that while a number of logistical challenges emerged, the evacuation of two nursing homes, including the “Schwentineblick” facility on Schönkirchener Straße, went smoothly. Fifty residents were safely transported by ambulance.

“This marks one of the most extensive evacuations in Kiel’s modern history,” a police spokesperson said, adding that statistics for bomb-related evacuations had not been maintained before the past ten years, making this event possibly the largest ever in the Schleswig-Holstein state capital.

Authorities implemented strict access controls during the operation. Several roads were closed, and only closed vehicles were permitted on key routes like the B502 and Heikendorfer Weg up to the Ostuferhafen. Convertibles, motorcycles, and pedestrians were barred from the area, and stopping or loitering in the vicinity was strictly prohibited.

By Khagan Isayev