A World War II bomb exploded in Moabit
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9,000 people have to leave houses – the Ringbahn is interrupted
Thousands of people in Berlin-Moabit have to leave their homes on Monday morning because a dud from World War II has to be rendered harmless. The evacuation is still ongoing. The Ringbahn has been interrupted since 11 a.m.
The evacuation of the restricted area around a World War II bomb in Berlin-Moabit was still ongoing on Monday afternoon. “We’re making good progress, we’re currently at 90 percent and we’re trying to get the last residents and traders out of the area,” said a police spokesman.
Residents were asked to leave their homes by 8 a.m. “Our colleagues are in the process of addressing residents and tradespeople in the area with a loudspeaker truck and also on foot,” said a police spokesman. “When that’s finished, we’ll get the signal and can then start the controlled demolition,” the spokesman continued. However, this is only to be expected in the course of the afternoon.
“At the same time, colleagues have been running from house to house since eight this morning and knocking on every apartment door,” the spokesman continued: A total of around 220 police officers are on duty in Moabit.
Blocking circle with a radius of 500 meters around the site
The 50-kilogram US-type bomb was found during construction work on Sickingenstrasse west of Beusselstrasse. The restricted area, which all residents have to leave, has a radius of 500 meters around the site. According to the information, around 9,000 people who live or work there are affected.
Many older people and people with restricted mobility also have to leave the restricted area. The German Red Cross (DRK) coordinates the patient transport, but other aid organizations such as the Johanniter Unfallhilfe are also involved. Around 60 transports were planned.
The Berlin wholesale market on Beusselstraße and other businesses and companies in the restricted area may also not be entered. An overview of all roads affected by the restricted area, can be found here [berlin.de].
The evacuation will continue through the morning, it said. “The bomb is deformed and the detonators are damaged, so we cannot work as usual, remove the detonators and transport the bomb,” the police spokesman said. “This time we have to do it in such a way that we detonate or detonate the bomb in a controlled manner.”
Cushions filled with 60,000 liters of water are to be placed around the bomb. In this way, the explosive effect of the bomb can be weakened, said the police spokesman.
Hotline for residents – also for people infected with Corona
The closure is expected to last several hours. The district office has set up collection points. These are also served by shuttle buses. The buses are on Sickingenstrasse between Beusselstrasse and Rostocker Strasse and on Huttenstrasse at the corner of Ufnaustrasse, as the district office announced on Friday.
The Mitte district office has one for those affected hotline furnished. This is on Monday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. by phone (030) 9018-46660 or by email at [email protected] accessible. People who have tested positive for the corona virus or who are in quarantine at home should also contact this hotline.
S-Bahn traffic interrupted since 11 a.m
The northern route of the Ringbahn. Therefore, the S-Bahn has the traffic of Lines S41/42 set between Beusselstraße and Westend. Both lines are interrupted “until around 6 p.m.”, it was said in advance. A replacement bus service cannot be offered due to the restricted area.
The bus service is restricted anyway. According to the BVG, three bus lines have been affected since 8 a.m. the M27 will be diverted in both directions between the Rathaus Tiergarten and Goslarer Platz stops. the Lines 106 and 123 can travel on their usual routes, but do not stop at the Wittstocker Straße stop.
The BVG subways and trams run as usual.
The bomb had been found on the Siemens Energy site in the past few days. A parking garage will be built there. The construction work is currently on hold, police forces are guarding the site.
Broadcast: rbb24 Inforadio, September 26, 2022, 6:00 a.m