3 World War II bombs are defused in a German city's biggest postwar evacuation

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — Three unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II were defused on Wednesday in Cologne after the German city's biggest evacuation since the end of the war.

More than 20,000 residents were evacuated from the city center earlier Wednesday after the bombs were unearthed on Monday during preparatory work for road construction.

Experts defused the bombs within about an hour, city authorities said in a statement.

Even 80 years after the end of the war, unexploded bombs dropped during wartime air raids are frequently found in Germany. Sometimes, large-scale precautionary evacuations are needed. The location this time was unusually prominent — just across the Rhine River from Cologne’s historic center.

Significantly bigger evacuations have occurred in other German cities.

The evacuations included homes, 58 hotels, nine schools, a hospital and two nursing homes, several museums and office buildings and the Messe/Deutz train station. It also included three bridges across the Rhine, including the heavily used Hohenzollern railway bridge, which leads into Cologne's central station. Shipping on the Rhine also was suspended.

Clearance to go ahead with defusing the bombs was delayed somewhat because one person refused in the historic center initially refused to leave their home, city authorities said.

Ambulances drive to the Eduardus Hospital in Cologne-Deutz to evacuate the hospital before specialists defuse three unexploded U.S. bombs from World War II that were unearthed earlier this week in Cologne, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Henning Kaiser/dpa via AP)

Two of the three unexploded World War II bombs are defused and prepared to be loaded onto vehicles for removal, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Cologne, Germany. ( Christoph Reichwein/dpa via AP)

One of the three unexploded bombs from the Second World War is fenced off with screens as specialists prepare to defuse them in Cologne, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Thomas Banneyer/dpa via AP)

One of the three unexploded bombs from the Second World War is fenced off with screens as specialists prepare to defuse them in Cologne, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Thomas Banneyer/dpa via AP)

WOODBRIDGE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 12, 2026--

ChemWerth, Inc., a global leader in generic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) development and supply, continues to expand its footprint and strengthen its position in the Indian market. To support its growth in the region, ChemWerth has hired Chandrakanth Reddy as general sales manager of its India office.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260111302280/en/

“The addition of a general sales manager in India signals our desire to grow our presence and customer base in the world’s most important generic pharmaceutical market,” said Pete Werth III, president, ChemWerth. “Chandrakanth will add tremendous value for our customers and contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) in India.”

Reddy is a seasoned pharmaceutical professional with more than 16 years of experience spanning API sourcing, business development, market expansion and regulatory-driven commercial strategy. He has successfully led high-value markets across India, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the United States, building strong customer partnerships and supporting sustainable revenue growth.

In his new role, Reddy will be responsible for leading ChemWerth’s sales strategy in India and strengthening regional customer relationships. He will also support the company’s focused initiative to roll out new generic APIs in the market, including fermentation, peptide and oncology injectable APIs.

“After reviewing ChemWerth’s strategic plan to unveil a strong pipeline of new generic fermentation, peptide and oncology injectable APIs for the Indian market, I knew that was something I wanted to be a part of,” said Reddy.

About ChemWerth, Inc.:

Established in 1982, ChemWerth is a full-service generic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) development and supply company providing cGMP-quality APIs to regulated markets worldwide. ChemWerth is a global company headquartered in the United States, with offices in China and India. For more information, please visit www.chemwerth.com.

Chandrakanth Reddy has joined ChemWerth, Inc., as general sales manager of its India office.