Mass evacuation in the German city of Koblenz

The ghosts of World War II have returned to haunt this week to the inhabitants of the German city of Koblenz, 66 years after the end of that conflagration.British Bomb 1.8 tonnes which was launched by British aviation emerged in the Rhine after the water level down because of drought.Some 45,000 residents, nearly half the population, began to be evacuated from Koblenz on Saturday by the authorities, waiting to detonate the bomb in the early hours of Sunday.All residents within a radius of two miles have been ordered to vacate.This is the largest evacuation by a controlled detonation since the end of World War II.In February 2010, some 20,000 people were evacuated in the French city of Caen in Normandy during the Allied bomb deactivation of the Second World War, it fell into the city after the Normandy landings.In Koblenz, the neighbors are still digesting the news that for decades have been living near a large bomb."It's strange to know that a bomb has been there all these years," he told the BBC . "I thank God that nothing happened. And now of course we hope that everything goes well tomorrow ."

The German authorities reported that seven senior centers, two hospitals and a prison will also have to be evacuated.Those who have nowhere to go can find accommodation in schools converted into shelters with about 12,000 beds.The pump has been surrounded with sandbags. This Sunday, it will drain the water that surrounds it and then start the deactivation, which is scheduled to occur at about 15.00 local time (14.00 GMT).On Sunday, all road and rail connections to Koblenz will be suspended. Trains do not stop at the main station from 08.00 local time.The council has distributed leaflets from Tuesday, which encourages residents to protect their houses with the shutters closed.