Thousands of residents across Devon have been forced from their homes after the discovery of two separate suspected Second World War explosives. The unlinked incidents in Exmouth and Plymouth have triggered major emergency responses, with bomb disposal specialists working to neutralise the historic devices.
Major Incident in Exmouth: 5,000 Residents Displaced
In Exmouth, a major incident was declared after a suspected unexploded device was dredged from the water near the marina on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. Authorities established a substantial 400-metre safety cordon, encompassing an estimated 2,000 properties.
East Devon District Council leader, Councillor Paul Arnott, stated that around 5,000 people have been evacuated. He warned residents to prepare for a second night away from home, indicating the complexity of the operation. "I think it would be dishonest of me not to say there is another night of this, where people are going to have to be in temporary accommodation," he told the BBC.
Exmouth Police confirmed the severity of the situation on social media, describing it as a "very large WW2 German bomb." Multiple emergency services, including bomb disposal teams, remain on the scene, and the public is urged to stay away from the area.
Plymouth Operation: Navy Experts Assess Luftwaffe Bomb
Meanwhile, in the Millbay area of Plymouth, a 100-metre cordon was imposed around a building site on Martin Street following a discovery on Wednesday afternoon. While some evacuated residents and hotel guests were briefly allowed to return on Wednesday evening, further evacuations were expected on Thursday, 15 January, to allow the safe disposal of the device.
Specialists from ADS Drilling and unexploded ordnance company S.I UXO identified the device as a Luftwaffe SC50 general-purpose bomb from the Second World War. Royal Navy bomb disposal experts, alongside police, paused operations overnight due to limited daylight and a need for additional equipment.
Plymouth Council confirmed the operation would resume on Thursday morning. The ongoing incident has led to the closure of Milbay Academy and the Moxy Hotel, with people advised to avoid the Millbay area.
Ongoing Impact and Community Response
The twin incidents have caused significant disruption across Devon. The scale of the Exmouth evacuation is particularly notable, affecting a large swathe of the town centre. Local authorities are coordinating temporary accommodation and support for those displaced, while urging patience as highly trained military personnel conduct the delicate and dangerous work of rendering the decades-old explosives safe.
These discoveries serve as a stark reminder of the lasting legacy of the Second World War on British soil, with unexploded ordnance still periodically unearthed, requiring expert intervention to protect public safety.
