250 kilo bomb successfully detonated in Euskirchen – residents evacuated!

250 kilo bomb successfully detonated in Euskirchen – residents evacuated!

On July 9, 2025, there was a sensational incident in Euskirchen: a 250 kilogram American aerial bomb from the Second World War was discovered on the Erft, near Alfred-Nobel-Straße. Fortunately, the bomb was successfully detonated and nothing worse happened. The explosive ordnance disposal service had the situation firmly under control, as a damaged detonator made a controlled explosion necessary wochenspiegellive.de reported.

To ensure the safety of residents, an evacuation area with a radius of around 500 meters around the site was set up. This meant that around 1,100 people had to be evacuated from their homes. A collection point in the Emil Fischer High School offered residents temporary protection, although only around 50 of them visited this location. The mood was tense, like Radio Euskirchen reported. Many people were waiting impatiently to return to their homes.

Explosion and consequences

The evacuation measures lasted more than six hours before the explosion occurred at 6:55 p.m. This explosion sent large amounts of earth flying, temporarily polluting some streets. The all-clear for residents was not given until after 8 p.m. and most closures were then lifted. However, some traffic routes, such as the L194 and the intersection with Kölner Straße/Bonner Straße, remain closed while the rings have been reopened to traffic.

For this occasion, Deutsche Bahn even interrupted train traffic between Weilerswist-Derkum and Mechernich and used buses as replacements to guarantee the mobility of the population. More information about the course of events can be found on the city of Euskirchen's social media channels, such as wochenspiegellive.de highlights.

The dangers of war relics

War relics pose a serious security risk, even today. Like the article on kommunal.at clarifies, dangerous objects from the Second World War should be handled with extreme caution. Experts advise that if you find something, you should immediately notify the police and stay away from the area. Numerous war relics have been discovered in Austria in recent years, and experts estimate that almost 15,000 unexploded bombs still lie in the ground.

The city administration of Euskirchen was lucky in misfortune. The smooth process of the demolition and the ultimate safety for the residents show that good planning and quick action are crucial in crisis situations. The cooperation with the responsible authorities and the population was of great importance. Residents who need help or have questions can call the hotline 02251/14-227.