No services between Taunton and Exeter 27/2/21- WW2 bomb

[whole diary]

[PhilWakely]

The bomb has now been exploded in situ, after building an enclosure of sand so as to minimise blast damage.

My brother lives in the 400 metre exclusion zone and was 'evacuated' [told to 'go out for the day and ignore lockdown travel regulations']. I've just received this text message from him....

It's been detonated. We're miles away, but this from a friend just outside the cordon, down by the railway.....

"They've just detonated it. It was so loud and there was an enormous black cloud and debris flying towards the tracks. It was absolutely incredible. There are some alarms going in your road, but no damage, no glass or debris in your direction. Imagine how scary WW2 must have been!  The blast was apparently felt 5 miles away"

*** edited to correct spelling error ***

[Clan Line]

Quite spectacular !!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-56221697

[bobm]

Line has re-opened.

[LiskeardRich]

Devon and Cornwall police have confirmed structural damage to buildings, and many blown windows, predominantly within 100m of the blast

[Thatcham Crossing]

Daughter in 4th year at Exeter, but near St James Park so about 1.5  miles from the bomb site reported a very big bang!

In her 1st and 2nd years she (and her twin sister) would have been within the evacuation zone.

[Red Squirrel]

Reports suggest that this was a SC1000 thin-cased high explosive bomb. The '1000' refers to the mass; 1000kg of high explosive is enough to make anyone's eyes water. You can see why the Bomb Disposal folk detonated it rather than trying to defuse it - you wouldn't have got me within a country kilometre.

Local residents, whose walls where cracked and windows blown in, were already rather unhappy that their local allotments were being redeveloped into yet more student accommodation. They must be incandescent now! And with hindsight I'd have to agree with anyone who suggested that the developers' bat survey was a bit of a waste of time: I'm no naturalist, but I imagine deafened bats are not long for this world.

[ChrisB]

The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report those living closest are not being allowed back anytime soon....

Exeter WW2 bomb: People 'unlikely' to go home on Sunday

People evacuated from their properties after an unexploded World War Two bomb was found in Exeter may not be allowed home on Sunday.

More than 2,600 households and 12 university halls of residence were cleared before the 2,200lb (1,000kg) device was destroyed on Saturday.

Police said the blast left a crater about the size of a double-decker bus.

They also said some buildings, mainly within 330ft (100m), suffered "blown-out windows and cracks in brickwork".

A 1,310ft (400m) cordon is still in place after households and some 1,400 students were evacuated following the find by builders on private land next to the Streatham campus at about 09:20 GMT on Friday.

Bomb disposal teams destroyed the device in a 400-tonne "box" of sand just before 18:15 GMT on Saturday in an explosion heard up to five miles (8km) away.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the blast impact from the German so-called "Hermann bomb" had been "significant", with debris thrown at least 820ft (250m) away.

Officers said "every effort" was being made to finish safety assessments of buildings affected "in the hope some evacuated residents may be able to return home this evening".

But they added that it was unlikely that most would be able to.

"Evacuated residents are advised to work on a worst-case scenario basis that they will not be able to," police said.

There were no concerns regarding the impact of the explosion, which caused a large plume of sand, on public health grounds, the force confirmed.

Devon County Council has a helpline for evacuated residents who need support.

The majority of residents who were evacuated stayed with friends and family.

But police said the council confirmed that "those already in hotel accommodation will be able to stay in their hotels tonight if necessary".

The university said students would not be able to return to halls on Sunday but it would "ensure that your alternative accommodation remains available overnight and we will continue to support you throughout".

Students in private accommodation "should follow instructions from local authorities", it said.

It also said it was "critical" that no-one returned to 15 buildings and areas on campus "before we have assessed them as safe for occupation".

However, it expected "all academic buildings will be open as usual tomorrow [Monday]" and anyone "scheduled to be on campus tomorrow for work or study... should plan to attend".

Roads remain closed in the area as a result of the incident.

The city was heavily attacked by German bombers in 19 raids during World War Two, which saw more than 7,000 devices dropped, particularly in May 1942 during the Baedecker Raids.