The discovery of an unexploded World War II bomb has disrupted morning traffic to and from Paris’ Gare du Nord train station, one of the world’s busiest transportation hubs, the French national railway company reported on Friday.
The incident occurred during routine work near the station when the bomb was found approximately 2.5 km (1.55 miles) from Gare du Nord, right in the middle of the train tracks. In response, local authorities, acting on a request from the Paris police, halted services on several lines. The H Line, one of the affected routes, announced via the messaging platform X that traffic to and from Gare du Nord would remain interrupted until a de-mining operation is completed.
The disruption has had a widespread impact on both local and international travel. Metro lines, commuter rails, and national and international trains, including Eurostar services, have been affected by the suspension of traffic. Eurostar’s website indicated that at least four scheduled trains departing from Gare du Nord on Friday morning were cancelled, with travelers advised to reschedule their journeys.
Gare du Nord serves as a major transit point for passengers traveling across northern France as well as to destinations in London, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Authorities have yet to provide an estimated time for the resumption of normal operations, and French police have not immediately commented on the incident.
The de-mining operation is underway, and officials continue to monitor the situation as efforts to secure the area progress.
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