Falmouth Bomb Scare: Evacuation Zone Reduced to 300 Households Ahead of Disposal

A World War Two bomb discovered in a Falmouth garden will necessitate the evacuation of around 300 households as Royal Navy specialists prepare for its removal and detonation.

Disposal Operation Underway

Cornwall Council confirmed the reduced cordon, initially encompassing a much larger area, will affect residents on and near Melville Road. The 500lb (227kg) device, found on a building site in the Marlborough Road area, triggered a substantial emergency response and road closures on Tuesday.

Royal Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams are orchestrating the complex operation. Their plan involves transporting the ordnance to a secure, deep-water offshore location where it can be safely detonated. This method is often preferred for larger, unstable devices to minimise risk to populated areas.

Emergency services, including Devon and Cornwall Police, have advised affected residents to prepare for Wednesday morning's evacuation. This incident underscores the enduring legacy of past conflicts, with such discoveries still posing considerable challenges and disruption decades later.