In an unlikely coincidence, two historic bombs were found in Devon sparking major evacuations in two locations
Shannon Brown Senior Reporter
12:13, 15 Jan 2026
A World War Two bomb found in Exmouth is "much larger" than a second historic device found in Plymouth.
Two historic WW2 bombs were found in Devon within hours of each other, each requiring the use of specialist equipment to recover and make safe.
On Wednesday, January 14, a large German war-time bomb was dredged up out of Exmouth Marina.
Meanwhile, just hours earlier, a German SC50 bomb was uncovered at a building site in Martin Street in Millbay, Plymouth.
Though the two bombs are unrelated, each is believed to have been dropped during WW2. Resources are being split between the two incidents and, as the bomb in Exmouth has been described as "much larger" than the one found in Plymouth, necessary equipment is being sent there first.
In an update, Plymouth City Council said Royal Navy bomb disposal experts are awaiting specialist X-ray equipment needed to make the device safe. It is hoped the equipment will arrive in the city today.
Plymouth City Council said in an update: "There have been no changes overnight. Royal Navy bomb disposal experts are currently awaiting specialist X-ray equipment to help determine the safest way to make the WWII device safe. We are hopeful this equipment will arrive in Plymouth today.
"However, it’s important to note that a much larger unexploded historic device has been found in Exmouth, which has resulted in a significant evacuation there. The same X-ray equipment will also be used in Exmouth, so at this stage we are uncertain about the timings for its arrival in Plymouth. We will update this page as soon as we know more.
"To reiterate: There is currently NO further evacuation of neighbouring residential properties. The map below shows that the impacted area is largely industrial or local businesses."
At both sites, a 100m cordon was initially put in place, before being widened to 400m.
Properties and businesses have been evacuated at both sites, with some local residents spending the night at Plymouth Cathedral or a leisure centre in Exmouth.
A major incident has been declared Exmouth, with around 2,000 properties evacuated.