Thousands were evacuated from central Dresden, Germany, on August 6 after a 550‑pound (250‑kilogram) British World War II bomb was found during construction near the Carola Bridge. Authorities cleared a 3,280‑foot (1,000‑meter) radius before defusing the device on site and transporting it for disposal. Such discoveries are common in Germany, where unexploded wartime munitions continue to surface, prompting frequent large‑scale evacuations.
It's one of the most hazardous jobs in the world, with safety never guaranteed. In fact, it's a profession that could get you killed. But the role of a bomb disposal expert is an essential one, the aim being to render an explosive ordnance device inert without causing it to detonate.
Bomb disposal dates back to the 19th century, but was only formalized at the outbreak of the First World War. And while today methods and techniques of bomb disposal are highly sophisticated, so too are the munitions designed to end lives. So, just how dangerous is explosive ordnance disposal, and what does it take to defuse a potential disaster?
Click through this gallery and learn more about this unique and perilous occupation.