Unexploded WWII bomb in Turin prompts evacuation of 10,000 people
More than 10,000 residents of central Turin were evacuated on Sunday while demolition experts defused a British bomb from World War II, local authorities said.
All residents were told to leave a "red zone" around Nizza Street in the city's historic district, while another 50,000 in an outer perimeter were advised to either go or remain in their homes from 7:00 am (0600 GMT) until 4:00 pm.
Experts were called in to defuse a 500-pound bomb that British forces had dropped on the city more than 70 years ago.
Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino was present at the site and planned to also visit those who had been evacuated to buildings at a fairground on the edge of the city.
La bomba è stata disinnescata con successo – Torino torna alla normalità... pic.twitter.com/S3rDKSqUTJ
— Torino News 24 (@TorinoNews24) December 1, 2019
Airspace above Turin was closed during the operation as was the Porta Nuova train station which is located along Nizza Street.
Italian Major Elvio Pascale, who directed the operations, said a detonator at the tail end of the bomb had to be deactivated and that the most delicate part of the process could take up to seven hours to complete.
Gli sfollati per la bomba al Lingotto, tra letture, bevande calde e musica https://t.co/pGRjzw0jwL @LaStampa pic.twitter.com/4VWlIsXazb
— La Stampa Torino (@StampaTorino) December 1, 2019
The heart of the bomb contained 65 kilos (140 lbs) of dynamite, authorities said.
Comments
See Also
All residents were told to leave a "red zone" around Nizza Street in the city's historic district, while another 50,000 in an outer perimeter were advised to either go or remain in their homes from 7:00 am (0600 GMT) until 4:00 pm.
Experts were called in to defuse a 500-pound bomb that British forces had dropped on the city more than 70 years ago.
Turin Mayor Chiara Appendino was present at the site and planned to also visit those who had been evacuated to buildings at a fairground on the edge of the city.
La bomba è stata disinnescata con successo – Torino torna alla normalità... pic.twitter.com/S3rDKSqUTJ
— Torino News 24 (@TorinoNews24) December 1, 2019
Airspace above Turin was closed during the operation as was the Porta Nuova train station which is located along Nizza Street.
Italian Major Elvio Pascale, who directed the operations, said a detonator at the tail end of the bomb had to be deactivated and that the most delicate part of the process could take up to seven hours to complete.
Gli sfollati per la bomba al Lingotto, tra letture, bevande calde e musica https://t.co/pGRjzw0jwL @LaStampa pic.twitter.com/4VWlIsXazb
— La Stampa Torino (@StampaTorino) December 1, 2019
The heart of the bomb contained 65 kilos (140 lbs) of dynamite, authorities said.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.