Once again, a large-scale defusing of a World War II bomb is pending in Frankfurt. The unexploded bomb was found on Monday morning during construction work in the district of Bockenheim. On Wednesday, 12.10.2022, the 500-kilo dud from World War II is to be defused, which will affect about 20,000 people.
In this case, due to the design and condition of the large American aerial bomb, the defusing by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service of the State of Hesse (RP Darmstadt) may take somewhat longer. This is because it will only be possible to decide how to render the bomb harmless after elaborate preliminary rides on Wednesday, which will begin after the evacuation. A relatively large evacuation area of 1,000 meters radius around the bomb in Angelika-Machinek-Strasse was determined.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service considers it possible that the bomb can only be defused by a controlled detonation. This presents a special challenge. An uncontrolled detonation would cause massive damage to buildings and pose a great risk to human life. Therefore, immediately after the discovery, necessary protective measures were implemented at the site where the bomb was found: among other things, large quantities of sand and water are ready with which the bomb can be covered in order to minimize damage to surrounding buildings in the event of detonation.
Affected are, according to population figures, about 20,000 residents who must have left the restricted area by 9 a.m. on Wednesday without fail. At that time, public transportation in and out of the area will be suspended. A nursing home is also affected, but fortunately not a hospital. In the exclusion zone is also with the A648 one of the main highways, as well as the control center of the energy supplier MAINOVA.
The fire department has created an accurate and interactive map with search function, with the help of which residents and businesses can check whether they are affected by the evacuation: https://fwffm.info/karte
For all residents who cannot find another place to stay, a care center will be set up in the Ballsporthalle Frankfurt am Main (former FRAPORT Arena). This will be open from 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Transport assistance for people with limited walking ability who live in the evacuation area will also be coordinated by the fire department. Anyone needing assistance should register online as soon as possible at: https://fwffm.info/transport or call the established citizens' hotline at: 069 / 212 111. The hotline is manned from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and from 6 a.m. on Wednesday.
Police and city police will control from 9 o'clock whether the area is completely cleared and close this until the end of the measures. When the actual defusing work of the explosive ordnance disposal service can begin, and how long it will take, can not be said at this time.
Up-to-date information is published on www.feuerwehr-frankfurt.de. The city of Frankfurt, fire department and police also provide information on their Twitter channels: www.twitter.com/Stadt_ffm, www.twitter.com/firefightersffm or, www.twitter.com/polizei_ffm
