The German city of Cologne is evacuating some 20,500 people from a large area in the city center so that experts can defuse three unploded bombs from the Second World War.
The American bombs were discovered on Monday in a shipyard in the Deutz district, the city said in a statement.
Unploded The ammunition can always put a danger and the city sealed the area within a radius of 1,000 m (3,280 feet), in what it described as “the largest operation since the end of the Second World War”.
Houses, shops, hotels and schools were invited to evacuate, as well as a large hospital and a large station.
“If you refuse, we will escort you from your home – if necessary by force – with the police,” said the authorities.
Residents were told if they refused to leave their homes after the start of the evacuation, they could make expensive fines.
Some intensive care patients have been helped in the ambulances of Eduardus hospital.
Finding bombs of the Second World War is not unusual in German cities such as Cologne and Berlin, but the difference here is that these bombs are particularly important.
The German bombs elimination service plans to defuse devices on Wednesday, but this can only be done once all residents of the densely populated area contain their own safety, said the city.
The evacuation in the districts of the old town and Deutz began with lecturers to tell people that they have to leave their homes.
Many usually lively streets of the city were strangely deserted while stores, restaurants and businesses were invited to stop working during the day.
Cultural institutions such as the Philharmonic Hall and many museums have been affected, as well as government buildings, 58 hotels and nine schools.
Transport has been seriously disrupted, all the roads are closed in the region, many trains canceled and the Mass / Deutz station was closed from 8:00 am, local time (07: 00bst).
The authorities have set up two centers without appointment for people who have nowhere to go during the evacuation period.
Residents were told to “stay calm”, bring their identity card and any essential medication and take care of their pets.
Cologne Bonn airport has said that theft would continue as usual, but that it can be difficult to travel to the airport by train or on the way.
For some people, the evacuation was more than a little embarrassing. Fifteen couples were to marry at the Historée Historique de Cologne, but the ceremonies were moved to one place in another part of the city, local media reported.
