AG百家乐在线官网

Plymouth: More than 3,000 residents evacuated after discovery of WWII bomb sparks major incident

Residents being evacuated were asked to make sure they have essential items such as clothes, medicines and baby items for "at least a 36-hour period".

Pic: PA
Emergency personnel by the cordon after a suspected Second World War explosive device was discovered in a garden on St Michael Avenue in Plymouth. Picture date: Thursday February 22, 2024.
Image: A police cordon remains in place at the scene in Keyham, Plymouth. Pic: PA
Why you can trust Sky News

More than 3,000 people are leaving their homes after an unexploded Second World War bomb was found in the back garden of a home in Plymouth.

Devon and Cornwall Police declared a major incident on Tuesday and evacuated properties within 200 metres of the bomb.

One hundred armed forces personnel were on the scene to assist the evacuation, and the Ministry of Defence said bomb disposal teams were helping to make the device safe.

Share with Sky News

You can share your story, pictures or video with us using our app, private messaging or email.

:: Your Report

::

:: Email

By sending us your video footage/ photographs/ audio you agree we can broadcast, publish and edit the material.

In an update on Thursday morning, Plymouth council said the cordon has been extended to 309 metres, affecting 1,219 properties and an estimated 3,250 people.

It comes after residents were asked on Wednesday evening to make sure they have essential items such as clothes, medicines and baby items for "at least a 36-hour period".

'Very scary moment'

A local Keyham mechanic from Wayne's Mobile Mechanic Ltd told Sky News that he was evacuated from his family home on Tuesday with his wife and three children.

A local mechanic from Keyham. Pic: supplied
Image: A local mechanic was evacuated with his wife and three children. Pic: supplied

"We were evacuated on Tuesday around lunchtime and it's been a very scary moment for myself, my wife and three children," he said.

"We are currently staying with our granddaughter Demi and grandson Grayson Blu."

Residents being evacuated after a suspected Second World War explosive device was discovered in a garden on St Michael Avenue in Plymouth. Picture date: Thursday February 22, 2024.
Image: Residents being evacuated due to a WW2 bomb. Pic: PA

When asked what the reaction of the community has been, he said: "It's unbelievable and very scary as we live yards from the scene."

He said he was not sure when the family will be let back into their home, but has heard it might possibly be the weekend.

Residents being evacuated after a suspected Second World War explosive device was discovered in a garden on St Michael Avenue in Plymouth. Picture date: Thursday February 22, 2024.
Image: Pic: PA

Officials started knocking on doors from 8am this morning and a free shuttle bus was put on to pick residents up every 15 minutes, the council said.

People have also been encouraged to make arrangements to stay with friends and family over the next couple of days.

Read more from Sky News:
Flood warning as almost three inches of rain forecast in parts of UK
'Panic on police faces' as 'body of Clapham suspect' found in Thames

Police officers stand at a cordon after homes were evacuated.
Pic:PA
Image: Police officers stand at a cordon after homes were evacuated. Pic: PA
Pic: PA
Members of Dartmoor Rescue Group by the police cordon after a suspected Second World War explosive device was discovered in a garden on St Michael Avenue in Plymouth. Picture date: Thursday February 22, 2024
Image: Members of Dartmoor Rescue Group help the evacuation. Pic: PA

The council said those being evacuated will be taken to Plymouth's Life Centre which has been set up as an emergency rest centre with tea and coffee, blankets, towels and toothbrushes, a creche and faith room available.

Those who have already been evacuated will be able to return to their homes to collect "urgent, essential items only" including medication or a pet, the council said.

Officers were first called to a property on St Michael Avenue in Keyham after a man said he found the device while digging out the foundations for an extension.

Plymouth evacuation radius
Image: A radius of 309m has been evacuated

The Royal Navy's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team is among those at the scene.

Earlier on Thursday, images showed tonnes of sand being delivered to the area, which a police source told Plymouth Live, will be used to build a sand wall around the unexploded bomb.

Among those affected was Teresa Cork, who had travelled from her home in the Prince Rock area to Keyham to rescue her son and daughter-in-law's cat.

Teresa Cork and her cat being evacuated after a suspected Second World War explosive device was discovered in a garden on St Michael Avenue in Plymouth. Picture date: Thursday February 22, 2024.
Image: Teresa Cork collecting her relative's cat. Pic: PA

"It's eerie. I went over to feed the cat yesterday and it is very eerie, and also quiet," she said.

"Today it is a bit more scary because there is a lot more people - a lot more official people. There are sandbags everywhere and a bit more reality."

'My husband hasn't been out the house for six years'

Carol Wheeler told Sky News on Wednesday that she was concerned about the cordon being widened.

She said: "I find that difficult because I've got a disabled husband and at the minute there's no plan in action of how we're going to get him out because he hasn't been out the house for six years.

Carol Wheeler
Image: Carol Wheeler was worried she may have to evacuate

"It will be difficult. It takes four people to lift him down the stairs, plus he's got loads of electronic equipment and he's got motor neurone disease.

"He's non-verbal, and I've had to have a day off work as well. I can't move the car, I can't go out and do any shopping but they say the cordon is going to be expanded a bit more."

Bomb 'found about a week ago'

Speaking to Plymouth Live, the man who called police over the device said he actually found it "about a week ago".

Pic: Plymouth council
Image: The Life Centre has a creche and emergency supplies. Pic: Plymouth City Council

"I hit something with a spade but we weren't sure what it was at first," he said.

"Since then we've had so much rain, the bank collapsed, then there was more rain on Friday and it's been revealed more and more...

"By this point my wife said we really should just call the police and alert them. I took photos and sent them off and a sergeant in Exeter rang me... saying he needed to send them off to EOD.

Pic: PA
Members of Dartmoor Rescue Group by the police cordon after a suspected Second World War explosive device was discovered in a garden on St Michael Avenue in Plymouth. Picture date: Thursday February 22, 2024
Image: Pic: PA

"Five minutes later there's a knock on the door and police officers asking to have a look. The next minute they're suggesting a cordon."

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Plymouth saw more than 50 bombing attacks during the Second World War, and in 2011 an explosive device was unearthed by a workman at a building in Notte Street, near the city's Hoe.

The device was made safe before it was moved to the seabed off Plymouth Sound, with an exclusion zone around it.