The local administration evacuated around 23,000 people from the Italian city of Fano on Wednesday after a World War II era bomb was accidentally activated during evacuation work, BBC reported. Schools were shut, patients were removed from a hospital and train services were suspended before security personnel disposed of the bomb in the sea.

Mayor Massimo Seri said the evacuation was necessitated because the removal operation was “dangerous”.

Residents were allowed to return to their homes after the operation that went on for several hours ended.

In February, the London City Airport was shut down after an unexploded World War II bomb was found in the Thames river at the George V Dock.