World War II bomb found at Plymouth construction site.

More than 1,200 homes in Plymouth have been evacuated after a World War II bomb was found at a construction site, with officials preparing to carry out a controlled explosion.A 400-metre exclusion zone has been set up around the site in the Southway area, where a 250 kg German SC250 bomb was found, the BBC reports. Officials said the device could not be safely moved due to concerns over fuses.Colonel Nick Handy, the senior explosives officer who led the operation, said that despite X-ray efforts one of the bomb’s fuses could not be properly assessed.“The simple reason is that the fuse is the thing that makes it explode,” he told reporters.He said the lack of clear readings meant it was too dangerous to move the device.“Unfortunately we could not get a definitive X-ray of the second fuse and therefore it is not safe to move that item,” he said. “Then we’ll blow it up in place.”Teams have been working through the night to build a protective structure using large amounts of sand to minimize the impact of the explosion.Colonel Handy said, “We will do our best to destroy the object and burn it inside a structure, thereby limiting the damage to the local environment.” He said efforts are focused on reducing the blast and debris.Residents within the cordon have been asked to leave their homes, and officials have warned that no one should return until the operation is completed.The Southway Youth and Community Center has been opened to accommodate evacuees, while Plymouth City Council is arranging hotel accommodation for those unable to find alternative shelter.Devon and Cornwall Police said there are currently no plans to expand the exclusion zone, but noted that the situation is subject to change depending on safety assessments.