Authorities in Berlin initiated a large-scale evacuation on Thursday evening following the discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb in the city center. The device was located during routine clearance work in the Spree River, near the Mühlendammbrücke bridge.
The affected area is primarily south of Museum Island, specifically the “Fischerinsel” district and extends to residential zones bounded by the Spree Canal, Heinrich-Heine-Straße, the Spree River and the Rotes Rathaus (City Hall).
City officials issued an urgent directive for all individuals within the designated exclusion zone to evacuate immediately, citing a potential danger to life. The perimeter has been closed off and will likely remain so for several hours while specialists work to render the bomb safe.
A temporary emergency shelter has been established at the Rathaus Mitte, located at Karl-Marx-Allee 31, to accommodate evacuees. Residents are strongly advised to adhere to instructions from authorities and seek refuge at the designated shelter.