Allies’ bomb found under petrol station
Second World War shell defused as 75,000 are moved
THESSALONIKI // The discovery of an undetonated, 227- kilogram Second World War bomb under a petrol station led authorities in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki to move about 75,000 people to safety yesterday. The operation began at 7am with police officers going from house to house, knocking on doors to remind people living within a 2- kilometre radius, mostly in the western suburb of Kordelio, to leave their homes.
Bomb disposal experts started work at 11.30am, and defused the bomb in only 30 minutes, said the governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzizikostas.
“The first phase of the bomb disposal has been a success,” Mr Tzizikostas said.
“There remains its removal from the site. Residents will still not be allowed in their homes, because the removal contains dangers.” The bomb was to be taken to an army firing range.
Many people left the area in their cars, but some were taken by bus to schools and sports halls elsewhere in the city.
“We heard on TV that, if the bomb explodes, it will be like a strong earthquake,” said Michalis Papanos, 71, as he and his wife left their home. Alexander Bogdani and his wife, Anna Bokonozi, left on foot, with their toddler daughter in a pushchair.
“They have warned us, we are afraid for the child,” Mr Bogdani said.
The city’s main bus station was shut down, trains in the area were halted and churches cancelled their Sunday services. The city also booked a hotel where people with limited mobility were taken on Saturday.
Among those removed to safer areas were 450 refugees staying at a former factory, who were taken to visit the city’s archaeological museum.
One resident said he could recall the day the bomb fell. “The bombing was done by English and American planes on September 17, 1944. It was Sunday lunchtime,” said Giorgos Gerasimou, 86, whose home is less than 1km from the site.
He said the Allies were targeting German rail depots. He remembered the day clearly because one of his 10-year-old friends was killed in the air raid. Germany occupied Greece from 1941 until October 1944.