Around 20,000 people have been evacuated in the German city of Cologne after three unexploded WWII bombs were discovered.
According to Mail Online, a large part of the city centre has been cordoned off as experts prepared to defuse the explosives on Wednesday morning.
The US-manufactured weapons, which have gone unnoticed for 80 years, are two 90kg bombs and one 45 kg bomb, which were discovered in the borough of Deutz in central Cologne on Monday.
The size of the explosives means that a 1,000 metre danger zone has had to be sealed off, with residents and business owners instructed to leave the area from 8am local time today.
The city’s evacuation zone includes the entire old part of Cologne, 58 hotels, three bridges, the town hall, the train station, as well as several museums, a hospital, and two care homes.
German broadcaster RTL was also evacuated this morning mid-air.
A TV presenter told viewers: ‘Excuse me if we’re a bit rushed. We’re already on the go,’ before the programme ‘Punkt 8’ was cancelled.
Two shelters have been set up for those affected as the operation continues, while sports halls and churches outside the city centre have been turned into support centres for those evacuated.
Local transport has also been affected as rail and bus networks were brought to a halt.
The operation is understood to be the biggest ever post-war bomb detonation.
At least 1.5 million bombs were dropped on the German city during WWII.
