Homes around Exmouth Marina, on the UK south coast, have been evacuated after an unexploded Second World War bomb was dredged from the water during routine operations on Wednesday (14 January 2026).
Emergency services established a cordon around the marina, initially set at 100 metres, which was later extended to 400 metres, forcing residents within the zone to leave their properties overnight.
Up to 2,000 homes have been affected, with an estimated 5,000 people displaced and unable to return overnight. Exmouth beach and the marina are both closed as a precaution, and vessel movements have been suspended while specialist teams assess the device.
The marina posted on Facebook: “Exmouth Marina and the Marina Office will be closed until further notice. No vessel movements are permitted in or out of the marina at this time. Thank you for your understanding.”
Exmouth Marina is a small, independent, family-owned marina in the north-west corner of Lyme Bay, offering berths for vessels up to 15m.
Military explosive ordnance disposal experts, including Royal Navy teams, have been deployed to examine the find and determine the safest way to proceed. An assistance centre has been established at LED Exmouth Leisure Centre to support displaced residents, while police and council staff are going door to door to manage evacuations and provide guidance.
Devon and Cornwall Police say: “Emergency services have been engaging with those who are impacted on the ground regarding the evacuation. We’d like to thank the local community for your support while this incident is dealt with.”
A 400m safety cordon is now in place around Exmouth Marina after a suspected unexploded ordnance was dredged up earlier today. An assistance centre has been set up at Exmouth LED Leisure Centre. Visit https://t.co/Eu5OWLCzHK for latest updates. pic.twitter.com/gqFWi5k4bs
— East Devon District Council (@eastdevon) January 15, 2026
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service area manager Matt Herdman told the Exmouth Journal: “At the moment, we think we’ve got a suspected Second World War, or war, device that’s been dredged up. Our priority at the minute is the safety of all of the local community.”
East Devon District Council said agencies are working together to manage the situation and keep residents informed. Council leader Paul Arnott says: “Our teams are working closely with military specialists to ensure the device is made safe as quickly as possible, and we will provide updates as soon as we have them. We understand this is an unsettling situation for local residents, and we thank everyone for their patience and cooperation.”
Devon and Cornwall Police also advised people to avoid the marina area, warning that disruption was likely to continue while assessments were ongoing.
Latest this morning in Exmouth where hundreds remain evacuated after a suspected wartime ordinance was found in the marina
More here: https://t.co/EwizqKQxxg pic.twitter.com/q3OzXixM7K
— Greatest Hits Radio Devon News (@GHRDevon) January 15, 2026
Later, it emerged that a second unexploded German bomb had been discovered at a building site 50 miles away in Plymouth, where a 100-metre exclusion zone was put in place, and nearby properties were advised to leave as a precaution. The device was identified as a 50kg bomb, and further evacuations have not been ruled out as work continued.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that bomb disposal teams are attending both incidents and warned of significant impacts across the affected areas.
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