The discovery of an unexploded World War Two bomb in Plymouth has resulted in the displacement of thousands of people according to the city council. The exclusion zone has been expanded from 200m to 309m in the Keyham area from 9:00 GMT on Thursday. Police found the bomb in a garden on St Michael Avenue on Tuesday. Nearly 1,219 properties have been emptied and around 3,250 people have been dislodged. The bomb disposal experts are still evaluating the device to select the best approach and it is a “very complex situation”, said the council.
Jordan Grimshaw, who was a resident inside the cordon, described the situation as “one mad rush” since the bomb was discovered. Another resident, Michael Wheeler, who has three dogs with his partner, said they would “go away for the weekend” as they had nowhere else to go. The council urged evacuated residents on Wednesday to “please make arrangements for your pets to stay with friends and family”. The Life Centre leisure centre is serving as an emergency rest property for those forced to evacuate.
The Ministry of Defence revealed that the bomb at the centre of the cordons is a 500kg German bomb, which dates back to World War Two. Councillor Sally Haydon, cabinet member of Plymouth’s community safety, libraries, cemeteries and crematoria, stated that the priority is “to make sure that people are looked after and kept safe”. While decisions are still being made by the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, Inspector Paul Laity stated that their primary aim was not to force people living inside the cordon zone out of their homes. Instead, emergency services were advising people on the hazards, but they could decide whether to stay or not
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