Audant alarm in Lindenthal: Cologne University Hospital prepares evacuation!

Audant alarm in Lindenthal: Cologne University Hospital prepares evacuation!

In the Lindenthal district of Cologne, a new suspicion of duds from the Second World War was found. During floor examinations at the Leiblplatz, metallic objects were discovered, which must now be examined more closely. These investigations take place on Friday, May 16, 2025, by experts in the ordnance disposal service. The aim is to determine whether it is old war bombs or old metal, so reports Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger .

possible evacuations are considered for May 20 if ignicial duds are found. In the event of an immediate discovery of a bomb with a long -term igniter, an evacuation could be necessary on Friday. The effects concern critical infrastructure, including the University Hospital Cologne and a senior citizens' house in the area.

restrictions and evacuation measures

The city of Cologne has already informed around 9,600 households in Lindenthal about the situation and asks the residents to prepare for a possible evacuation. On April 17th there was already an evacuation of around 8,000 people after a World War II bomb was found on the Unicenter. In the current case, the regulatory office determines which areas must be evacuated, and this decision will be announced on Friday afternoon.

In the context of this danger situation, container walls on Kerpener Straße and on Leiblplatz have already been built. Important traffic routes are also affected: Gleueler Straße remains fully blocked in the area of ​​Leiblplatz by May 28th. If necessary, a shuttle service is set up from the surrounding quarter to the RheinEnergieStadion, where residents can be accommodated during evacuation. However, pets are not allowed in the contact point.

The increase in mutual discoveries

The current events are part of a larger trend: almost 80 years after the end of the Second World War, ordnance are discovered daily. In 2024, 1,606 bombs were found in North Rhine-Westphalia alone, which corresponds to over 40 % more than in the previous year, as The state of North Rhine-Westphalia . The increase is attributed to the increasing construction activity, whereby the ordnance disposal services are increasingly being included in infrastructure projects.

The fight against blind companions is not only an acute topic in Cologne, but also affects the entire region. Interior Minister Herbert Reul emphasizes the importance of the work of the ordnance disposal services and emphasizes that considerable funds flowed into this area in 2024 to ensure the security of citizens.