Evacuation in Cologne: Rheinpark cleared due to World War bomb in the Rhine

Impact on the Rheinpark

The discovery site is located in the Rhine near Köln-Deutz on the right bank of the Rhine. For safety reasons, the riverbank in the affected section has also been closed, as the city announced.

The broadcasting company RTL is also directly affected by the evacuation: the broadcaster's broadcast center is located within the evacuation zone. An evening edition of the news program "RTL Aktuell" planned for the evening therefore cannot be broadcast from Cologne as scheduled.

RTL Relocates Broadcasting Operations to Berlin

The broadcaster announced that the evening program "RTL Aktuell" would instead be produced from Berlin and broadcast live from there. Regular program production is thereby temporarily relocated to the federal capital until broadcasting operations at the Cologne location are possible again.

The evacuation of the Rheinpark also affects planned events at the Tanzbrunnen and in the surrounding recreational grounds. The City of Cologne announced that it would provide information on possible cancellations or rescheduling of events as soon as the bomb disposal is completed.

According to the authorities, the find is an unspecified World War bomb. Explosive ordnance disposal services are deployed to identify the device and render it harmless in a professional manner.

Closures and Behavioral Instructions

During the ongoing operation, a restricted area applies around the discovery site. The city called on people to follow the instructions of the emergency services and to give the area a wide berth in order to keep emergency routes clear.

Citizens can obtain information on the current status of the disposal and the end of the closures via the city's information channels and warning apps. As soon as the security authorities give the all-clear, access to the Rheinpark is to be reopened.