Giant evacuation in Kiel: 6,900 residents in danger because of bomb!

Giant evacuation in Kiel: 6,900 residents in danger because of bomb!

A challenging and safety-relevant defusing is taking place in Kiel this Sunday, November 30, 2025. A 500-kilo aerial bomb from the Second World War must be defused, which requires a comprehensive evacuation of the Gaarden district. Around6,900 residentsout of3,899 householdsare affected and must leave their homes by 10 a.m. at the latest. The bomb was located in a densely built-up area with adjacent green space, making the situation complicated. The head detonator is severely deformed, so defusing it requires precision work in the truest sense of the word. Specifically, according to the information from NDR, a water cutting system will be necessary to separate the detonator from the bomb body, which is what the Defusing is expected to take longer than usual.

The city of Kiel has already taken all necessary measures to offer residents security and support. This is how one becameRestricted areaset up, which particularly affects Werftstrasse between Ziegelstrasse and Gaardener Ring, while the Oring remains passable in both directions. When evacuating, it is important that neighbors are informed and residents make sure to leave their windows open. Relevant information is provided via radio announcements, mobile phone apps such as NINA and KATWARN as well as through the homepage of the city of Kiel communicated.

Areas of application and support

Anyone who needs assistance leaving their homes can contact the Kiel professional fire department's service hotline at0431 / 5905 555is reachable. Those tooHans Christian Andersen District Schoolwill be available as temporary accommodation from 9 a.m. so that the evacuated residents can stay for a short time. Residents are urged to remember essentials such as food, drink and medication as they may have to stay out of their homes for several hours.

The proper planning and implementation of the evacuation is ensured by the cooperation of the police, fire brigade and aid organizations. In such an acutely dangerous environment, it is particularly important that everyone involved pulls together. However, anyone who refuses to leave the restricted area in a timely manner will face forced eviction, so it is advisable to strictly follow the authorities' instructions.

The background to the bomb

What many people don't know: World War II bombs like the one now discovered in Kiel can still be dangerous decades after they were dropped. The detonators and explosives are often unstable due to corrosion and aging and can cause uncontrolled detonations that can have devastating consequences. For this reason the orderedEvacuation radiusfrom 300 to over 1,000 meters, depending on the bomb type and condition, and not without reason. The information from the past clearly shows that appropriate security precautions are of utmost importance to protect the population.

The residents in Suchsdorf are allowed to return quickly after the defusing, for example1,700 residentsare no longer affected in the area and all closures should be lifted. Shipping traffic on the Kiel Canal will also be affected by the work. We can only hope that everything goes smoothly and that the defusing takes place without incident.