Some 20,000 people in Cologne to be evacuated to defuse three World War II bombs found on the Rhine bank

Authorities in Cologne, Germany, have announced the evacuation of 20,000 residents to defuse three American World War II bombs found on the banks of the Rhine. The risk radius is 1,000 meters, affecting critical infrastructure including hospitals and old people's homes. The evacuation will begin at 06:00 GMT and will also impact the work of the municipality, with closures of administrative buildings and educational institutions. This is one of the largest evacuations in Cologne in recent years amid frequent bomb discoveries during the war.