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Thousands of passengers were left stranded on Friday after an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered near the tracks of Paris' Gare du Nord, one of Europe's busiest train stations.
The bomb was unearthed during construction work in the Seine-Saint-Denis area, prompting the suspension of all Eurostar services between Paris, London, and Brussels. The unexpected find sparked widespread travel disruption across France, the UK, and Belgium, with rail operator SNCF estimating the chaos would last throughout the day.
While unexploded bombs from the two World Wars are occasionally found across France, it's unusual for such a discovery to happen in such a densely populated area.
French bomb disposal teams were immediately dispatched to the site, where clearance operations were still underway by Friday afternoon. Authorities confirmed that no trains would run until the area was deemed safe.
"We're working as quickly as possible, but safety is the top priority," a police spokesperson said.
The shutdown caused ripple effects across Europe. In London's St Pancras station, passengers hoping to reach Paris faced cancellations and long delays.
"We were supposed to be celebrating our anniversary in Paris, but now we're scrambling for flights," said Lauren Romeo-Smith, one of many frustrated travellers.
In Brussels, Eurostar services to Paris were also suspended, forcing some passengers to extend their stays or seek alternative routes.
"There’s no solution," said retired Parisian Michel Garrot, who was visiting the Belgian capital. "We'll have to book another night and try again tomorrow."
While unexploded bombs from the two World Wars are occasionally found across France, it's unusual for such a discovery to happen in such a densely populated area. Gare du Nord, which handles around 700,000 passengers daily, is a critical transit hub connecting Paris to London, Brussels, Amsterdam, and regional French cities.
French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the disruption would likely continue until late Friday, urging passengers to seek alternative travel options.
As bomb disposal efforts continue, travellers across Europe are left waiting — another reminder of how history still shapes the present.
*With information from Al Jazeera
