Panic in Germany: Emergency evacuation ordered - 20,000 people leave their homes

On Thursday night, government buildings and embassies were closed and about 7,500 residents had to evacuate the district of Fischerinzel on the river Spree because they were in "mortal danger" from a possible explosion, according to an emergency warning in German media.

The police confirmed that the object found in the river was indeed a bomb, and then went door to door, warning citizens to evacuate immediately.

This is the second such incident in just two days: On Wednesday, a bomb from the 1940s weighing around 100 kilograms was found in the Spandau district of West Berlin, and should also be defused on Friday. This will require the evacuation of another 12,000 people.

In the immediate vicinity of the bomb found in the river Spree in a densely populated area, a security zone of 500 meters has been established, which includes the city hall, several government buildings and the Chinese embassy. Police shared a map of the area on social media and urged citizens to avoid it. Specialist teams will attempt to defuse the bomb before residents return home.

Discovered during routine research

The Mitte district, popular with tourists, is home to many museums and attractions. The city authorities have opened a shelter for evacuees in the city hall building, and another shelter will be organized in a nearby school, the fire service announced.

"We just want to sleep, this is unbearable," said one father, holding his sleeping child, the Tagespiegel newspaper reported, and the British Telegraph reported. Another city employee tried to calm residents by saying he would "be home for breakfast."

Once the evacuation is complete, police will use forensics to assess if and when the bomb will be defused. But since the bomb was found four meters underwater and its condition is unknown, police warn that the job will be extremely complex. "It will most likely have to be deactivated quickly and on the spot," said a Berlin police spokesman.

Finding explosive remnants from the Second World War in Germany is not uncommon - unexploded bombs "surface" almost daily during construction work on roads, bridges or fiber optic cables. In the state of North Rhine-Westphalia alone, around 1,600 were deactivated in 2024, Deutsche Welle reported.

The bomb was discovered during routine "exploratory work" by explosives disposal experts near the Millendam dam, the fire service said. The area was immediately cordoned off, river traffic was stopped, and disruptions to public transport and road traffic are expected.

It is not excluded that life in the affected part of the city will return to normal only in a few days. Earlier this year, Cologne had to evacuate more than 20,000 people after three bombs from the 1940s were discovered at a construction site.