World War II aerial bomb discovered in Dernau: Around 600 people must leave their homes on Friday

The dud was found on Thursday during survey work for the restoration of the Ahr. According to the district administration, the 250-kilogram World War II aerial bomb is located on the right bank at the level of Ahrweg. The explosive ordnance disposal service wants to defuse the bomb as early as Friday morning. The Ahrweiler district will provide information via the Katwarn and NINA warning apps as soon as the defusing is complete.

For people who cannot stay with relatives or friends, a gathering point will be set up at the Freundschaftshaus Marienthal at Donau-Ries-Platz. The district administration is also setting up a detour. Local public transport, including the Ahrtalbahn, as well as road traffic will be closed in the affected area, it said. The federal road B267 is among those affected.

Closures and contact points

World War II aerial bombs often lie unnoticed beneath our streets and houses for decades, sometimes still in large numbers and still capable of detonating. Authorities therefore regularly point out that finds during construction work or, as in Dernau, during surveys in river areas are not uncommon. According to the administration, the current operation is a planned defusing with a clearly defined exclusion zone.

Connection to the 2021 flood disaster

The discovery site is directly related to the reconstruction following the Ahr Valley flood disaster five years ago. Dernau was particularly hard hit by the flood: Several people died, houses, the bridge, and roads were washed away. During the ongoing survey work to restore the river course, the bomb has now been uncovered. The town of Dernau stated that the evacuation was necessary within a tight timeframe in order to carry out the defusing safely.

After the flood, the town was a major construction site for years. During excavations, compaction work, and the relaying of pipelines, excavators repeatedly uncover munition remnants. The Ahrweiler district administration asks residents to follow the instructions of the emergency services and to leave the exclusion zone promptly. Once the defusing is complete, the closure is to be lifted via KATWARN and NINA.

The federal road B267 is an important connection along the Ahr Valley. Due to the closure on Friday, significant traffic disruptions are expected on the detour routes. Rail traffic on the Ahrtalbahn will also be suspended in the affected section until the defusing is completed. Commuters are asked to avoid the area on a wide scale.

Friday's schedule and information for those affected

The authorities emphasize that the evacuation is purely a precautionary measure. Experience has shown that defusing operations on aerial bombs usually proceed routinely, but they require the reliable execution of all steps: evacuation, cordoning off, defusing, release. In Dernau, the town, district, police, fire department, and explosive ordnance disposal service are coordinating the operation. Should the defusing take longer than planned, updated information will also be disseminated via the warning apps.

Given the town's history, sensitivity among the population is high. Many families have not yet fully processed the flood disaster; the destruction was profound. The renewed evacuation is a reminder of the vulnerability of the region, where natural events and the legacies of war still leave their mark to this day. At the same time, the routine preparation shows that the authorities are prepared for such situations.

According to the administration, the gathering point at the Freundschaftshaus Marienthal is equipped with rest areas, drinks, and food. People with mobility limitations can contact the municipal hotline, which was set up specifically for the operation. Pets may be brought along, provided space allows. Medical practices and care services in the exclusion zone have also informed their patients in advance.

If the defusing proceeds as planned, the emergency services expect the closures to be lifted during the course of Friday afternoon. School and daycare operations in Dernau were already canceled on Thursday evening to enable a smooth evacuation process on Friday morning. The town expressly thanked all helpers and the neighboring communities that are offering accommodation options.