Skyscraper in Duisburg: Second “White Giant” is blown up

The second “White Giant” in the Duisburg district of Hochheide will be blown up on Sunday. We are there live.

+++ 10:21 am: The second “white giant” is Weighing 50,000 tons, 63 meters high, 90 meters long. More than 1,700 residents are affected by the evacuation and have to leave their homes and apartments.

Two and a half years ago, a building at Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 10-16 was blown up.

The high-rise estate in Hochheide is now considered a social hotspot. Almost 50 years ago, in 1974, the six concrete giants with up to 20 floors were completed. Three of the giants consisted of 160 apartments each, the other three of 320 apartments each.

+++ 10:00 am: Because of the extensive barriers, the traffic situation and because there is practically no view of the “White Giants”, the city asks Duisburgto refrain from traveling.

There will be no food stalls (drinks / snacks) and no toilets on site. We broadcast the detonation via live stream in the “WDR aktuell” app, on our WDR homepage and in the WDR’s social media channels. There is a local time extra on WDR television from 11:30 a.m.

+++ 09:30 am: The hour has struck for the “White Giant” at Otto Strasse 24-30. It should be blown up in about two hours, at 12 noon.

In the Hochheider pub “Alt Hochheide” there has been a demolition party since 7.30 am. Landlord Hans Staudinger is open almost three hours earlier than usual on a Sunday. During the morning pint, the explosion is broadcast on a canvas.

The Liebfrauen Church in Hochheide has brought forward its planned service for 11:30 a.m. – including first communion. In his Sunday sermon, Pastor Thorsten Hendricks recorded the demolition of the “White Giant”.

Source: wdr.de