06 May 2017 | 02:00 PM UTC
Germany: Mass evacuation in Hanover on May 7
At least 50,000 to be evacuated in Hanover on Sunday, May 7, over five unexploded World War Two bombs
Event
Around 50,000 people in Hanover are to be evacuated on Sunday, May 7, while experts defuse five World War Two bombs. The operation is the second largest to be carried out in Germany, and a tenth of Hanover's population will be affected.
The evacuations will begin at 09:00 (local time), and residents have been advised to take all necessary items with them. Officials predict that residents will be able to return to their homes on the evening of May 7th.
Traffic disruptions are likely, and rail travel may also be hit by delays in the early afternoon.
Context
Allied planes bombed Hanover heavily during World War Two, killing thousands and destroying much of the city. The largest bomb-related evacuation in Germany took place on December 25, 2016 in Augsburg, during which 54,000 people were evacuated after a large World War Two bomb was unearthed.
Advice
Individuals in Germany are advised to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious objects or behavior to the relevant authorities.
