Police Saturday ordered all 600 people living in the German town of Becherbach to move out overnight while the brought in bomb-disposal robots to deal with around 60 kilogrammes of explosives, dpa reported.
The cache belonged to a 62-year old local man who apparently collected explosives and ammunition as a hobby.
The robots were expected to drag the explosives from a shed belonging to the man into a nearby field for a controlled explosion early Sunday.
Police declined comment on reports that the explosive was nitroglycerine.
Also in the shed were an army surplus truck in camouflage paint, machine guns and hand grenades. On Tuesday, police had discovered 50 guns and 50,000 to 60,000 rounds of ammunition at the retired man's home in another town. He faces charges under gun laws.
Armed police patrolled deserted Becherbach to prevent looting. Residents were urged to stay the night with relatives or in a special shelter. One immobile resident had to be moved in a special ambulance for the obese.
Three explosions are planned, 1,300 to 1,400 metres away from the shed, police said. The weapons were moved to a German army arsenal.