Bomb defused in Gelnhausen - Residents allowed back - WWII bomb defused in Gelnhausen after mass resident evacuations
An unexploded World War II bomb was safely defused in Gelnhausen on Sunday. The operation forced hundreds of residents to evacuate and disrupted rail services in the region. Authorities confirmed no injuries or damage occurred during the process.
The bomb, a 250-kilogram U.S. explosive device, was discovered buried roughly four metres deep in groundwater. Its location required a controlled defusing operation by the Hesse state bomb disposal unit (Kampfmittelräumdienst).
To ensure safety, around 600 residents within a 500-metre radius were evacuated from their homes. An emergency shelter was set up at the sports and cultural centre in the Meerholz district for those displaced. The operation also impacted transport links. Rail traffic between Frankfurt and Fulda was suspended, with the line between Hailer-Meerholz and Langenselbold closed from 10:30 AM. A replacement bus service was introduced between Langenselbold and Gelnhausen, while long-distance trains were rerouted. Once the bomb was successfully neutralised, evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes.
The defusing operation concluded without incident, allowing normal activities to resume. Rail services gradually returned to schedule, and displaced residents were able to go back to their properties. The Hesse bomb disposal unit confirmed the area was safe following the procedure.
