Large Scale Evacuation Conducted For UXO Operation

Thessaloniki, Greece Authorities executed a large scale evacuation of people (nearly 70,000) in support of a bomb disposal operational. A public campaign launched days in advance included flyers, posters, and public announcements warning residents about the need to evacuate for safety.

The evacuation was necessary so bomb disposal technicians could render safe a U.S. WWII era 250-pound bomb. The bomb was recently found buried beneath a gas station during a construction project to expand the tank farm.

The evacuation impacted over 70,000 people within a 1.2 mile radius of the site. The bomb disposal operation lasted approximately 6-hours and involved over 800 police and 300 volunteers.

Once rendered safe, the bomb was relocated to an active range for disposal.