Residents in the northern suburb of Paris, specifically in Colombes, were ordered to leave their homes within a 450-meter radius of where a World War Two bomb was discovered last month, according to the BBC. The evacuation took place on Sunday as authorities worked to render the historic munition safe.

Evacuation and Bomb Disposal Operation

Residents living within the 450-meter radius were told by police to leave their homes by 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) as authorities carried out a bomb disposal operation. An initial attempt to remove the device’s detonator failed, prompting authorities to destroy the bomb in situ with a controlled explosion, according to French media reports.

The operation was described as ‘carried out successfully’ by the Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine, who confirmed that the evacuation order was lifted by early Sunday evening. The bomb was discovered on 10 April during construction work on Rue des Champarons. Authorities secured the site and covered the device with sand while preparing for its removal.

Preparation and Risk Management

Ahead of the operation, local official Alexandre Brugère said it would be ‘risky’ and required a ‘high level of preparation.’ Nearly 800 police officers were deployed to enforce the 900-meter-wide evacuation zone, while a second, wider zone extending a kilometre from the bomb’s location allowed residents to remain indoors but restricted outdoor activity.

Locals received emergency alerts instructing them to leave and were told they would not be allowed to return until the operation had been completed. ‘The authorities told us to close our windows and shutters when we left the house, but we didn’t take anything – we left everything as it was,’ one resident, Alida, told newspaper Le Parisien.

Controlled Detonation and Evacuation Lift

Police said bomb disposal experts conducted the controlled detonation at 15:20 on Sunday. The evacuation order was lifted shortly after 16:00. Reception centres were set up for those forced to leave their homes, including support for vulnerable residents requiring medical assistance.

Undetonated World War Two bombs are still found regularly across Europe, 86 years since the war began. Those uncovered in urban centres – usually when digging foundations for new buildings – can pose a greater risk due to a built-up nearby population. Dozens of bombs have been found in recent years across London, leading to evacuations of tourist hotspots and even the temporary closure of London City Airport.