A large-scale evacuation was carried out in the southern German city of Nuremberg last night ahead of the planned disposal of a World War II air bomb, DPA reported.
The city authorities announced that road closures within an 800-meter radius of the site were necessary.
Around 21,000 residents had to leave their homes, the city government said, adding that this was the largest evacuation operation to be carried out in Nuremberg since the discovery of a World War II bomb.
The bomb, weighing about 450 kilograms, was discovered during construction work on Avenarius Street in the Grossreuth district "Grossreuth".
Nearly 500 firefighters, around 250 volunteers from the rescue services, 60 civil protection service employees and over 100 police officers were sent to the scene, DPA reports.