An explosives expert works on the 650kg World War II German bomb discovered on a building site of Marseille's harbour, March 18, 2012. Some 1,500 people were evacuated from surrounding districts to allow the operation to go ahead. [Photo/Agencies]

MARSEILLE - About 1,000 people were evacuated on Sunday after a big bomb dates back to World War II was found in the southern French port city of Marseille.

The 1,400-pound (650 kg) bomb, which was discovered a week ago by workers at a building site near the port, was removed on Sunday to a military base to be detonated.

According to local authorities, the ignition system of the bomb, which was likely buried by German troops during World War II, no longer works but the explosives are dangerous.

According to the latest news, the evacuated have returned and port traffic resumed after the removal of the bomb to the military base, local media reported.