A World War II bomb found at a Plymouth building site.
More than 1,200 homes have been evacuated in the city of Plymouth, after a bomb dating back to World War II was discovered at a construction site, as authorities prepare to carry out a controlled explosion.The BBC reported that a 400-meter exclusion zone had been established around the site in the Southway area, where a German SC250 bomb weighing 250 kg was found. Officials said the device could not be safely transported due to concerns about its valves.Colonel Nick Handy, the senior explosives officer leading the operation, said one of the bomb’s fuses had not been properly assessed despite X-ray attempts.“The simple reason is that the fuse is the thing that makes it blow,” he told reporters.He added that the lack of a clear reading means that moving the device is very dangerous.“Unfortunately, we cannot obtain a final X-ray of the second smelter, so it is not safe to move this item,” he said. “So we’ll blow it up on site.”Teams worked throughout the night to build a protective structure using large amounts of sand to reduce the impact of the explosion.“We will make every effort to set fire to this item and burn it within a structure that will limit damage to the local surrounding areas,” Colonel Handy said, adding that efforts are focused on minimizing explosions and debris.
Residents inside the cordon were asked to leave their homes, and authorities warned that no one would return until the operation was over.The Southway Youth and Community Center has opened to accommodate evacuees, while Plymouth City Council is arranging hotel accommodation for those who cannot find alternative accommodation.Devon and Cornwall Police said there were currently no plans to expand the exclusion zone, but indicated the situation could change depending on safety assessments.
