Frankfurt (dpa/lhe) - Before the defusing of a World War II bomb in Frankfurt, preparations are in full swing. 50,000 liters of water and large amounts of sand alone are piled up as a protective measure at the site, as the press spokesman for the Frankfurt fire brigade announced on Tuesday. This should minimize the risk of flying splinters. The 500-kilogram bomb was discovered on Monday during construction work in the Bockenheim district.
The dud is to be defused on Wednesday by the explosive ordnance clearance service of the state of Hesse. He had explained in advance that the bomb could possibly only be defused by controlled detonation.
According to the information, around 20,000 residents are affected, who have to clear the restricted area by 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning. There is also a nursing home there. The approximately 260 residents are to be brought to a former hotel. According to the home, the evacuation was planned in close consultation with the city.
In the restricted area with a radius of one kilometer there is also part of the Autobahn 648. It is to be closed from Westkreuz towards the city centre. Local public transport will also be stopped in the affected area for the duration of the measures. According to information from Deutsche Bahn, the S-Bahn route between Frankfurt-West and Rödelheim should be closed between 11:30 a.m. and around 5:00 p.m. as a precaution. According to the Frankfurt transport company traffiQ, buses and a tram line are also directly or indirectly affected by restrictions.
Local residents can use an interactive online map from the fire brigade to see whether they are affected by the evacuation. For all residents who cannot find another place to stay for the duration of the evacuation, a support center will be set up in the Frankfurt Ball Sports Hall.
