Thousands evacuated in Polish town after builder uncovers unexploded WWII bomb

The skyline of Lublin, Poland is seen. The community has been evacuated due to an unexploded WW2 bomb found at a construction site. (Anna Holodna/ Pexels)

WARSAW, Poland — Some 14,000 people were evacuated in the eastern Polish town of Lublin Friday after a construction worker uncovered a massive unexploded bomb.

The police, Territorial Defense troops and city transport were helping in the evacuation, which must take place before military engineers can remove the bomb and take it away for neutralization, according to the town hall spokesperson, Katarzyna Duma.

Roads in the area have been closed.

Duma said the residents were being taken to safety in schools and other large buildings.

They have been instructed to turn off gas, water and electricity in their homes, close the windows and doors and to take their IDs and necessary medication with them.

Residents should be able to return home in the early afternoon.

Builders uncovered the 250-kilogram (550-pound) bomb buried in the ground during works on a new residential area on Thursday.

There was a Polish airplane factory and an airport there before World War II that could have been the target of wartime bombings. Under Nazi German occupation there was a prison and a labor camp there,

World War II bombs are still regularly found during earthworks in Poland, which was the site of heavy fighting.