Some 17,000 people were asked to leave their homes in the eastern German city, authorities said.

The affected area includes the famous Frauenkirche, a church that was rebuilt brick-for-brick after being destroyed in the war, as well as several hotels.

The Carola Bridge, one of Dresden’s main Elbe river crossings, partly collapsed in the middle of the night in September 2024.

The entire structure is due to be demolished by October.

Around 80 years after the war, Germany remains littered with unexploded ordnance, often uncovered during construction work.

Over 20,000 people were evacuated from central Cologne in June after three unexploded World War II bombs were found, the biggest such operation in the city since the end of the war.

The heart of the city was left deserted, with a hospital, two old people’s homes, nine schools and a TV studio evacuated.

The bomb found in Dresden was British-made and weighs 250kg, according to city authorities.