A bomb dating from the Second World War was discovered in the city center of Annecy on October 22. A major mine clearance operation is being organized this Sunday, November 24. In the early morning, an entire neighborhood was evacuated, 3,500 residents had to leave their homes for safety reasons.
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As soon as day broke, many Annecy residents had to leave the comfort of their homes and brave the cold. This Sunday, November 24, 3,500 residents of the Hirondelles district, in Annecy (Haute-Savoie), were forced to evacuate their homes due to a major mine clearance operation.
On October 22, on the construction site of the former NTN-SNR industrial site, a bomb dating from the Second World War, weighing nearly 250 kg, was discovered. The premises were then secured. Now, a new stage of neutralizing the bomb must be carried out this Sunday.
The entire Hirondelles district was evacuated shortly after 9 a.m. this Sunday, November 24.
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© FTV
A perimeter of 400 meters around the machine was defined. All occupants of this area were evacuated from 8:30 a.m. “No activity or traffic for the duration of the mine clearance operations” is not authorized during the operation, indicates the prefecture in a press release.
Residents will have to evacuate the area within a perimeter of 400 meters around the bomb.
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© Prefecture of Haute-Savoie
While police barriers are in place around the area, failure to comply with these rules may result in an interruption of operations.
The reopening of the area is planned “as soon as possible”the document continues: “The return of residents from the security perimeter is subject to express authorization from the prefect at the end of the neutralization operation.” The device should be maintained until at least the end of the afternoon.
Disruptions are also expected on road and rail routes. The SNCF station will be closed, the press release from the prefecture specifies: “No train will run between Aix-les-Bains and Annecy, nor between Pringy-Gare and Annecy-Gare“. Substitution means by coaches could be put in place for the Annecy-Chambéry line or via Pringy station for the Annemasse-Annecy line.
A municipal command post (PCC) was organized to coordinate the mine clearance operations, with the presence of the mayor of Annecy, François Astorg (right).
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© FTV
To temporarily replace the bus station, an exchange hub will be set up in the Baudelaire high school parking lot to accommodate coaches (Flixbus, Blablabus, etc.). Sibra urban transport will also be impacted. The route of seven lines will be adapted, connections with the interchange hub will also be set up and finally, the frequency of line 2 will be increased in order to serve Pringy station.
The following roads are also closed:
- the Annecy Center exit of the A41 motorway
- the ring road
- the departmental roads D1501 and D1508
- the Courier tunnel
- access to the Chevêne car park
- parking lot at Effia station.
All road disruptions are listed on the Inforoute 74 website. The prefecture recommends “to avoid the travel to Annecy” this Sunday.
