Authorities from Hanau, in Alemanha, carry out this Thursday (11) the controlled detonation of a 250-kilo German incendiary bomb discovered in an industrial area in the Großauheim neighborhood. The weapon, manufactured during Segunda Guerra Mundial, contains 65 kilos of flammable material and bottles of white phosphorus, a substance that ignites on contact with air and burns at 1,300 °C.
The explosion is scheduled for early afternoon, after the total evacuation of a radius of 1 kilometer around the location of the find. Cerca of 4,500 residents of the Großauheim and Klein-Auheim neighborhoods need to leave their homes by noon.
The operation mobilizes 500 security agents, firefighters and specialized teams from the Hessen government’s demining service.
Evacuation hits residential and industrial neighborhoods
Residents were advised to leave the risk zone by 11am. The city prepared gyms and community centers as temporary shelters.
- Three schools and three daycare centers remain closed throughout the day.
- Elderly people and people with mobility difficulties receive door-to-door transport.
- Domestic animals must also be removed from the affected area.
The measure mainly affects the Großauheim and Klein-Auheim neighborhoods, where houses are located close to the construction site where the bomb was located on Tuesday (9).
Features make disarming impossible
Kampfmittelräumdienst experts explained that the bomb has a long chemical mechanism, typical of German incendiary weapons. White phosphorus reacts immediately with oxygen, making any attempt at neutralization risky.
The load contains pressurized bottles that rupture upon impact or manipulation. Therefore, the only safe solution is controlled detonation with barriers of multi-ton water bags.
Blockades affect land, rail and river traffic
The operation causes total interruption to traffic in the eastern region of Hanau from the early hours of the morning.
- The B43a federal highway has been closed in both directions since 9:30 am.
- All train lines east of the central station stop from 11am.
- Großauheim and Klein-Auheim stations close from 7am.
- Navigation on the river Main will be suspended during the detonation.
The closures are expected to last until early afternoon, when technicians confirm the site’s safety.
Preparation includes containment with tons of water
Teams position bags of water weighing up to 5 tons each to reduce the spread of fragments and toxic vapors. Casas located just 30 meters from the explosion point receive extra protection.
Technicians say material damage should be minimal if the detonation goes according to plan. The last similar operation on Hanau took place two years ago, also successfully.
Previous experience facilitates current coordination
Hanau records frequent discoveries of artifacts from Segunda Guerra due to the intense bombings suffered at the time. The city maintains a consolidated protocol for evacuations and detonations.
The city hall maintains a direct channel with residents via app and telephone. Atualizações occur in real time until the area is completely cleared, scheduled for early Thursday afternoon.
