‘Huge’ Unexploded WWII Bomb Discovered Under Train Tracks, Causing Major Traffic Disruption in France

Mar. 15, 2025

Eurostar trains at Gare du Nord in Paris.Photo:GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty

This photograph shows international high-speed rail service trains Eurostar parked at platforms as traffic has been stopped at the Gare du Nord station in Paris on March 7, 2025, following the discovery of a World War II bomb. Railway services at the Gare du Nord station, that have been interrupted on March 7, 2025 morning after the discovery of a World War II bomb, will remain “highly disrupted throughout the day”, warned the Minister for Transport.

GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty

An unexploded World War II bomb was discovered under train tracks near Paris’ Gare du Nord station, creating a major disruption to commuter traffic in the area.In the early morning of Friday, March 7, construction workers found the bomb approximately a mile and a half north of the station, according toCNNandNBC News. Eurostar trains traveling to and from France’s busy train terminal have been “completely halted” as a result, a spokesperson for the railway company told PEOPLE in a statement.“Due to the discovery last night of an unexploded bomb from the Second World War during work carried out on the tracks in St. Denis (North of Paris), traffic has been completely halted to and from Gare du Nord,” the statement reads. “As a result, all Eurostar trains are cancelled to and from Paris today.”The company notes that they expect “normal traffic between Paris and Brussels, and between Paris and London” to begin on Saturday, March 8.Passengers at Gare du Nord in Paris.GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via GettyThe “really huge” bomb could potentially be a “serious threat to people’s lives,” a spokesperson for SNCF, France’s national railway company, told CNN. The outlet reports that the bomb weighs approximately 441 pounds in explosives and 1,102 pounds total.Police immediately evacuated the area and a security perimeter was established, disrupting local train lines as well, according to CNN and NBC News.The local RER-B train line noted that after the discovery was made, “the bomb disposal experts" arrived on the scene “to secure the area and evacuate the elements,” according to their post shared toX.World War II bomb exploded at Japan airport in October 2024.Kyodo via APIn October 2024, a World War II bombexploded at an airport in Japan, creating a large crater on the taxiway at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan,CBS Newsand theAssociated Pressreported at the time.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.While the incident led to the cancellation of more than 80 flights, there were no reported injuries, according to both outlets.At the time, Land and Ministry officials said Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and police confirmed it was a 500-pound U.S. bomb that exploded, and they were investigating what led to its detonation.

An unexploded World War II bomb was discovered under train tracks near Paris’ Gare du Nord station, creating a major disruption to commuter traffic in the area.

In the early morning of Friday, March 7, construction workers found the bomb approximately a mile and a half north of the station, according toCNNandNBC News. Eurostar trains traveling to and from France’s busy train terminal have been “completely halted” as a result, a spokesperson for the railway company told PEOPLE in a statement.

“Due to the discovery last night of an unexploded bomb from the Second World War during work carried out on the tracks in St. Denis (North of Paris), traffic has been completely halted to and from Gare du Nord,” the statement reads. “As a result, all Eurostar trains are cancelled to and from Paris today.”

The company notes that they expect “normal traffic between Paris and Brussels, and between Paris and London” to begin on Saturday, March 8.

Passengers at Gare du Nord in Paris.GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty

Passengers stand under an information screen displaying that traffic has been stopped at the Gare du Nord station in Paris on March 7, 2025, following the discovery of a World War II bomb. Railway services at the Gare du Nord station, that have been interrupted on March 7, 2025 morning after the discovery of a World War II bomb, will remain “highly disrupted throughout the day”, warned the Minister for Transport.

The “really huge” bomb could potentially be a “serious threat to people’s lives,” a spokesperson for SNCF, France’s national railway company, told CNN. The outlet reports that the bomb weighs approximately 441 pounds in explosives and 1,102 pounds total.

Police immediately evacuated the area and a security perimeter was established, disrupting local train lines as well, according to CNN and NBC News.

The local RER-B train line noted that after the discovery was made, “the bomb disposal experts” arrived on the scene “to secure the area and evacuate the elements,” according to their post shared toX.

World War II bomb exploded at Japan airport in October 2024.Kyodo via AP

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Oct. 2, 2024, shows a crater from an explosion on a taxiway at Miyazaki Airport in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan, caused by an unexploded U.S. bomb from World War II. With such bombs often discovered at the airport, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force sent an explosive ordnance disposal unit to investigate

Kyodo via AP

In October 2024, a World War II bombexploded at an airport in Japan, creating a large crater on the taxiway at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan,CBS Newsand theAssociated Pressreported at the time.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

While the incident led to the cancellation of more than 80 flights, there were no reported injuries, according to both outlets.

At the time, Land and Ministry officials said Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and police confirmed it was a 500-pound U.S. bomb that exploded, and they were investigating what led to its detonation.

source: people.com

Other Posts

Powered by Hugo