Unexploded WWII Bomb Found Near Falmouth, 339 Homes Evacuated In UK

An evacuation was underway in Falmouth, Cornwall, on Wednesday after a suspected unexploded World War II bomb was discovered in the water near Falmouth Docks, triggering a major operation involving military bomb disposal experts.

The device was found about 40 metres off Pendennis Headland on Monday morning. It is believed to be an American air-dropped bomb weighing around 250kg and more than 80 years old.

Authorities initially considered establishing a 1,400-metre exclusion zone, potentially affecting more than 1,300 households. However, following further assessment by military specialists, the planned cordon was reduced to 755 metres, with Cornwall Council estimating that 339 homes would need to be evacuated.

Residents inside the evacuation zone were instructed to leave their homes by 9am on Wednesday. Police and council staff went door to door to inform residents, while people unable to leave because of medical or other reasons were asked to alert emergency services. All Saints Church on Killigrew Street was designated as a place of safety for those needing somewhere to go.

The Royal Navy said mine-clearance divers from Bravo Squadron were assisting with the assessment of the suspected unexploded ordnance. Specialist Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams were also on site as authorities prepared to deal with the device safely.

Superintendent Vicky Howell of Devon and Cornwall Police said the cordon had been extended overnight and urged residents and visitors to stay away from the affected area and follow emergency-service instructions.

Police said experts were expected to move the bomb later on Wednesday, although it remained unclear how long the evacuation would last. Authorities have also warned residents not to return until emergency services confirm that it is safe.

The operation has disrupted local transport, with train services between Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks suspended while the bomb disposal operation continues.

The discovery is not an isolated wartime legacy in southwest England. In April, another suspected unexploded World War II bomb found at a building site in Plymouth led to the evacuation of more than 1,000 homes. Around 10 per cent of bombs dropped on Britain during World War II are believed to have failed to detonate, meaning unexploded wartime ordnance continues to be discovered decades later.