During the demining of a World War II bomb in Marseille. (archives) - BERTRAND LANGLOIS / AFP

A World War II bomb weighing nearly 500 kg was discovered in Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) and the demining planned for Wednesday will lead to the evacuation of 2,300 people, we learned on Friday from the town hall and Prefecture.

"An explosive device from the Second World War was recently found in Saint-Nazaire during work in a construction site", write the town hall and the prefecture in a statement specifying that the device is "buried deep in the basement of an old printing works ”.

A perimeter of 400 meters

On July 8, a perimeter of 400 meters around the explosive device will have to be evacuated, which concerns “a little more than 1,700 homes, or about 2,300 people” who can be accommodated, if they wish, in a nearby gymnasium .

In order for the bomb to be "neutralized on the spot before being taken to a dedicated site for destruction", the area will have to be completely evacuated at noon and demining operations will end around 6:00 p.m., the statement said.

Lille

Pas-de-Calais: Successful demining operation of a World War II bomb

Lille

North: A resident brings a grenade to the town hall, it is evacuated for an hour

  • Society
  • Second World War
  • Bomb
  • Saint Nazaire