Hundreds Evacuated in Frankfurt so WWII Bomb Can Be Defused

The Associated Press
4/14/2019
Updated:
4/14/2019

BERLIN—Some 600 people have been evacuated from their homes in the old city of Frankfurt so specialists could remove a World War II-era bomb that was discovered in the Main River.

The German news agency dpa reported the bomb was defused, as planned, underwater on Sunday, April 14, which led to a loud detonation and a big water fountain on the river. Police told dpa “the bomb is no longer a danger.”

During the underwater defusing, a more than 30-meters high fountain was rising and visible from afar. “This huge explosion and water fountain were really impressive and huge, that worked really well.” said Claudia Klerks, who happened to be there with her husband.

Passers-by are standing afar to witness the underwater defusing of an WWII bomb in Main River, in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 14, 2019. (Screenshot via Reuters)
Passers-by are standing afar to witness the underwater defusing of an WWII bomb in Main River, in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 14, 2019. (Screenshot via Reuters)

Firefighters had discovered the American 550-pound bomb during diving training in the river on Tuesday.

Even more than 70 years after the end of the war, bombs and other munitions still turn up regularly in Germany, a testament to the ferocity of the fighting in World War II.

A large water fountain rises behind the Iron Bridge when an American bomb from the Second World War in the Main River is detonated with a blast in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 14, 2019. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)
A large water fountain rises behind the Iron Bridge when an American bomb from the Second World War in the Main River is detonated with a blast in Frankfurt, Germany, on April 14, 2019. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP)