Augsburg evacuates 54,000 over bomb

Authorities have ordered residents in the southern German city within a 1.8 kilometer (1.1 mile) radius to evacuate their homes on Christmas morning. A bomb-disposal team will disarm the massive 1.8-ton aerial bomb which was launched on the city during the Second World War.

The impacted area covers much of Augsburg's central historic district, including the city hall and cathedral. On Saturday, patients at a hospital clinic were transferred to another hospital or allowed to temporarily go home.

Around 4,000 police, firefighters and emergency service personnel will be on hand to support the operation, which will impact 32,000 households. Peole without another place to go will be offered shelter in schools.

Seven decades on since the end of World War II, finding unexploded bombs dropped by Allied forces on Nazi Germany is not uncommon.

Sunday's evacuation will be the largest since 45,000 people were obliged to leave their homes when a bomb was removed from Koblenz in 2011.

Large parts of Augsburg were destroyed in February 1944, when the city was attacked by hundreds of British and US bombers. A major raid was organized against the city in April 1942. 

cw/jm (AP, dpa)