Because of the 250-kilo bomb – 9000 Heinsbergers have to leave the city – News Inland

Heinsberg – Mega evacuation in Heinsberg in North Rhine-Westphalia: almost a quarter of the residents have to leave their homes due to an air mine from the Second World War.

On Thursday (November 11, 2021), the 250-kilo explosive device was discovered during construction work on the sports field behind the secondary school. Explosives experts examined the dud and came to the conclusion: It is stable and does not need to be defused immediately.

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The evacuation of the 1.5 kilometer danger area could wait until Saturday. A mammoth task: 9,000 of the approximately 43,000 inhabitants of Heinsberg live in the affected zone.

Strong: Josef Vennen is already 101 years old, but can still walk alone to the gym in Straeten, where many evacuated Heinsbergers are waiting to return to their homesPhoto: Roberto Pfeil / dpa

City spokeswoman Kathrin Zimber on BILD: “There is also a hospital and two large old people’s homes in the danger area. That means a lot of work for the aid organizations because many of the people depend on help for the evacuation. “

Rail traffic is also restricted. Trains from Aachen already end in Heinsberg-Oberbruch.


Long ambulance columns brought people who couldn't make it to safety

Long columns of ambulances brought people who couldn’t make it to safetyPhoto: Roberto Pfeil / dpa

That is why the schedule could not be adhered to: The area should actually be cleared by 9 a.m. That didn’t work. The ordnance disposal service could not start its work at lunchtime either.

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