Suche
Mein Konto
Bomb drama in Cham: 2,500 people evacuated – defusing successful!
On July 10, 2025, a 250 kg aerial bomb had to be defused in Cham, which triggered a catastrophe.
Bomb drama in Cham: 2,500 people evacuated – defusing successful!
On July 10, 2025, an explosive defusing in Cham caused a stir. A 250 kilogram aircraft bomb from the Second World War was discovered by an excavator operator during earthworks. This discovery triggered a widespread evacuation process that affected around 2,500 people in the area, including residents of a nursing home and a hospital. District Administrator Franz Löffler (CSU) immediately declared a disaster because there was acute danger to the population.
The defusing of the bomb began in the early morning of July 10th and continued for several hours. The proximity to residential areas was undisputed, which is why an evacuation radius of 700 meters was set up around the site. While defusing work was underway, Cham train station was closed and train services in the region were temporarily suspended. A citizen hotline has been set up to offer evacuated citizens all the information and support they need. In search of short-term accommodation, many people found refuge in the town hall and in a care center nearby until they could return.
Safe return after intensive hours
However, the work was anything but easy. Special precautions were taken with the bomb's detonator - it was blown up on site before the bomb itself was defused. These difficult conditions required the full commitment of around 600 personnel from various organizations, including the police, fire brigade and the Technical Relief Agency (THW). After the work, Mayor Martin Stoiber and District Administrator Löffler warmly thanked the emergency services for their tireless efforts. At around half past five, the evacuated people were finally allowed to return to their homes and start school as usual.
For the residents affected, it was a night full of uncertainty that now ended happily. The experience showed how important it is to be well prepared in an emergency and to react quickly to protect human lives. Now that the danger has passed, the city of Cham looks to the future with peace of mind - further proof that with good organization and a strong team, any challenge can be overcome together.
For further details on defusing and its challenges, those interested can visit the website of South German newspaper, Mercury and VC Systems read up.