Bomb defused in Rastatt: 3,000 residents have to evacuate!

Bomb defused in Rastatt: 3,000 residents have to evacuate!

There is a hot affair in Rastatt today, October 26, 2025: An American aircraft bomb from the Second World War weighing approximately 500 kg was found on the construction site for the new combination pool. The defusing of the bomb is imminent and involves 3,000 residents, who have to leave a radius of 500 meters from the site by 8:30 a.m. so that the operation can take place safely. Preparations are already in full swing SWR reported.

Since October 14th, when the bomb was discovered during earthworks in Jahnallee, engineers and the explosive ordnance disposal service have been called upon to defuse the dangerous relic. So far, no damage has been found to the bomb, which is of course good news. Nevertheless, a two and a half meter high protective wall was also built to dampen the impact and intercept dangerous fragments in the event of an explosion. Without this protection, the evacuation radius would have had to be expanded to 1,000 meters, which would certainly have been no picnic for the citizens affected.

Defusing process

The evacuation will be accompanied by loudspeaker announcements starting at 8 a.m. All residential and commercial premises as well as open spaces in the restricted area must be evacuated by 8:30 a.m. Access routes to the bomb site will also be closed while defusing the bomb, and from 10 a.m. airspace and rail traffic will be suspended. Rastatt.de informs citizens about the details on its website and through information flyers.

So those who can't find a place to stay with friends or acquaintances can stay in the BadnerHalle, which is located at Kapellenstraße 20-22. Seating, drinks and even sanitary facilities are available there. And there is good news for pet owners: pets are allowed as long as they are on a leash or in transport boxes.

The dangers of explosive ordnance disposal

Explosive ordnance disposal is an important issue in Germany, as the dangers of unexploded bombs have existed since the Second World War. How Wikipedia explains, the elimination of these dangers is carried out by special services that also carry out historical explorations in order to find evidence of explosive ordnance contamination. This includes, among other things, the evaluation of archive materials and aerial photographs.

So far, a solid security concept has been developed for defusing in Rastatt, which once again brings the danger to the public into focus. Following these safety precautions is essential, and the city has established clear lines of communication to provide the all-clear. After defusing, residents are only allowed to return when this is officially announced - after all, safety comes first!

Overall, this incident shows how important the work of explosive ordnance disposal is for the safety of citizens. The on-site team always works with a good hand to safely remove historical relics from the past. We're keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly today!