Unexploded bombs from the Second World War can still pose a serious danger today. Many bombs are still hidden underground and are sometimes discovered during construction work or when sites are being surveyed before building work begins.
Although these bombs have been underground for many decades, their explosive charges may still be active. In some cases, ageing can even make them more sensitive. Vibrations, changes in position or temperature fluctuations can cause a bomb to explode.
If an unexploded bomb is found, immediate action is therefore required to protect people and remove the danger as quickly as possible.
If aerial photographs indicate that an unexploded bomb may be present underground, this is first checked by drilling at the site. If a bomb is actually found, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service determines whether it can be defused or has to be detonated. It also determines the size of the area that must be evacuated.

The safety zone is the area around the unexploded bomb that must be completely clear of people while the bomb is being dealt with.

All roads and access routes into the safety zone will be closed during the evacuation. No vehicles – including buses and trains – will be allowed to enter the area while the closure is in place.
Vehicles may leave the area before the final closure takes effect.

The size of the safety zone depends on several factors, including the size of the bomb, the type of fuse and the depth at which it has been found. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service determines the required safety zone. The Municipality of Eitorf is then responsible for evacuating the area and ensuring that it is completely clear of people before the bomb disposal operation begins.

The Municipality of Eitorf will provide regular updates on its website and social media channels on 20 October 2026. If an unexploded bomb is confirmed and an evacuation is necessary, this will also be announced there. Please also follow the local media, including newspapers and radio. You can obtain information by telephone from the public information hotline: 02243 / 89200.

Yes – initially, as long as it has not yet been established that the bomb actually needs to be defused or detonated. Once an evacuation has been ordered, however, everyone must leave the safety zone, including employees at workplaces located there. You will be informed by loudspeaker announcements and through the local media. Under German law, an evacuation required for bomb disposal is considered a case of force majeure. Employees who are unable to work (temporarily) because of the evacuation generally remain entitled to their wages under Section 615 sentence 1 of the German Civil Code (BGB).

The responsibility for getting to work lies with the employee. This also applies if public transport is disrupted or if you have to take a longer route by car or on foot.

For these two days, the holiday childcare programme will be moved to Mühleip Primary School as a precautionary measure.

For childcare centres located within the area that may be designated as a safety zone, there will be organisational changes on 20 and 21 October 2026. Further information will be provided directly by the respective childcare centre.

If your home is inside the safety zone, you must leave the area. Unexploded bombs are potentially live explosive devices and can pose a serious risk to life and health. The area must therefore be cleared before the bomb disposal operation can begin. The authorities are required to ensure that nobody remains inside the safety zone. Please follow the instructions given by the police, fire service and public order officials. Your cooperation helps ensure that the operation can begin as quickly and safely as possible.
Failure to comply with an evacuation order may result in a fine of up to 1,000€.

No. If your home is inside the designated safety zone, you must leave it. Nobody is permitted to remain in the area simply at their own risk. Anyone who refuses to leave and thereby obstructs or delays the bomb disposal operation may face a fine.

Once a bomb has been confirmed, residents will be informed through loudspeaker announcements and the local media. Information will also be published on the Municipality of Eitorf website: www.eitorf.de. Please be prepared to leave your home or workplace at short notice. Officials will also go from house to house and ask residents to leave. Once the safety zone has been closed, you will no longer be able to return to your home or workplace until the evacuation has been lifted.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to say in advance how long the operation will take. Every bomb disposal operation is different. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service has to take the local conditions into account and work carefully and precisely. Safety always comes before speed.

You should therefore be prepared to remain outside your home for several hours. The Municipality of Eitorf will provide information as soon as the evacuation has ended and the restrictions have been lifted. Updates will be available through the local media, the Municipality's website and at the designated assistance centre in the Mosaikschule Harmoinie.

If you are evacuated, please take the things you are likely to need for several hours.

In particular, please remember:

• identity card or other identification
• driving licence
• bank card and/or cash
• important medical documents
• mobile phone
• essential medication
• special food or dietary requirements
• baby food and nappies, if required

You may also want to take something to keep you occupied, such as a book, games or an electronic device.

People who require care or assistance are normally supported by an outpatient care service. The service will usually organise transport and temporary accommodation during the evacuation. If this is not the case, please contact the Municipality of Eitorf as early as possible: 02243 / 89121.

Early notification is particularly important if someone cannot leave their home without assistance.

Please contact the Municipality of Eitorf as early as possible if you or someone in your household needs special assistance to leave the property. This is particularly important for people with severe mobility restrictions, people who are bedridden and people who require intensive care.
We will then liaise with the emergency medical services. If necessary, they will arrange patient transport for temporary admission to a hospital or care home. Please also let us know about any special requirements, such as transport while lying down, a bariatric ambulance or the need for medical supervision during the journey. Please call us on 02243 / 89121.

For those who are unable to stay with friends or relatives, the Municipality of Eitorf will set up an assistance centre at:

Mosaikschule Harmonie, Sankt-Martins-Weg 5, Eitorf

You can stay there and will be provided with the essentials. However, if you or any family members require special food or drinks, such as baby food, or need medication, please bring these with you.

Please leave your home as if you were going away for a few days.

Before leaving:

• switch off lights, computers, televisions and radios
• extinguish candles
• turn off taps
• make sure that gas and electric cookers are switched off
• close all windows and doors
• lock the front door.

If possible and necessary, take your car with you and park it outside the safety zone.

As a general rule, pets should remain at home.

If this is not possible, please arrange alternative accommodation in advance, for example with friends, relatives or a boarding kennel. If you cannot arrange this yourself, you may take your pet to the assistance centre in a suitable transport carrier. Please remember to bring sufficient pet food.
Important: Once the safety zone has been closed, you will no longer be allowed to return home to collect your pet. There will be no exceptions.

If you cannot leave your pet at home, you must therefore make alternative arrangements before the evacuation begins.

The Municipality and the police are aware that people may be concerned about leaving their homes unattended. The police will monitor the safety zone during the evacuation for as long as this is possible. Access roads will be closed and controlled. However, once the actual bomb disposal operation begins, everyone – including police officers – must leave the safety zone.

A large number of police officers, firefighters and public order officers will be involved in the operation. They will check properties and buildings, ring doorbells and use loudspeakers to make sure that everyone has left the safety zone. The bomb disposal operation can only begin once the area has been completely cleared.

The police will also monitor the area for as long as possible in order to protect private property.

The police, fire service and public order department will systematically check the entire safety zone. The bomb disposal operation will not begin until these checks have been completed and the area has been confirmed to be clear.

The Municipality of Eitorf will provide continuous updates on its website and social media on 20 October 2026.

Information will include:

• the establishment of the safety zone
• the start of the evacuation
• any further developments
• the lifting of the evacuation

Updates will also be distributed through social media, radio and the press.

For telephone information, please call:

Crisis and Emergency Information Hotline: 02243 / 89200.

Please do not call 110 or 112 for general information. These emergency numbers must remain available for genuine emergencies.

A bomb disposal operation requiring an evacuation is considered a case of force majeure and does not normally give rise to compensation payments.
Employees who are (temporarily) unable to work because of the evacuation remain entitled to their remuneration under Section 615 sentence 1 of the German Civil Code (BGB).

The Eitorf police station would also be affected by a possible evacuation on 20 and 21 October 2026. If the suspicion of an unexploded bomb is confirmed, the police station will also have to be evacuated. However, the police will of course remain available by telephone around the clock.

Even after the safety zone has been established, emergency vehicles can enter the area if necessary. Police, fire service and emergency medical vehicles responding to an emergency may enter the restricted area using their emergency signals.

In principle, medical care at Eitorf Hospital will also be guaranteed on 20 and 21 October 2026, as the hospital is located outside the 500-metre safety zone. It therefore does not need to be evacuated.

The police and fire service may use drones to monitor the evacuation from the air and to help check the safety zone.

On these days, Town Hall staff will continue working as normal unless it is confirmed that evacuation of the safety zone is necessary. If an evacuation is required, all staff will have to assist with a wide range of tasks to ensure that the unexploded bomb can be safely dealt with as quickly as possible. They will be supported by police, fire and emergency service personnel.
On these two days, Town Hall staff will remain available by telephone or email.