Large-Scale Evacuation in Dresden Due to Unexploded WWII Bomb
Significant portions of Dresden's city centre have been evacuated following the discovery of a large unexploded British World War Two bomb. The device, weighing 250 kilograms (551 pounds), was located near the former site of the Carola Bridge, which collapsed into the Elbe River in 2024.
The Dresden fire brigade reported that this evacuation represents the largest in the city's history for such an incident, impacting approximately 18,000 residents, tourists, and commuters.
Extensive areas of the old town have been cordoned off, including several of Dresden's most renowned landmarks such as the Frauenkirche Lutheran church, the Residenzschloss Palace, and the Semper Opera House.
In addition, critical institutions within the evacuated zone include the police headquarters, Saxony's state parliament, various ministries, retirement and nursing homes, daycare centres, and other social service facilities.
Authorities have arranged emergency accommodation at the Dresden Exhibition Centre starting from 07:00 local time (06:00 GMT). To facilitate access, additional buses and trams are operating to transport evacuees to this location.
The duration required to safely defuse the bomb remains uncertain.
Historical Context of the Bombing
Dresden was subjected to a major bombing raid by British aircraft on 13 February 1945. In the subsequent days, British and American forces dropped nearly 4,000 tons of bombs on the city during the assault.
The resulting firestorm caused approximately 25,000 fatalities and devastated the city centre, which was once celebrated as the "Jewel Box" for its Baroque and Rococo architecture.
During demolition work on the Carola Bridge last year, four additional unexploded bombs were discovered.
The 1945 attack on Dresden remains one of the most contentious Allied military actions of World War Two. While some argue it was a strategic necessity, others consider it a war crime.
Reconstruction of prominent landmarks such as the Semper Opera and the Frauenkirche took many years to complete following the war.
Impact on Current Cultural Activities
Stephen Chaundy, a British tenor currently engaged at the Semper Opera, informed the BBC that rehearsals scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled due to the evacuation.
"The past casts a long shadow,"
he reflected on the British bombing of Dresden during World War Two.
