An unexploded US bomb dating back to World War II detonated at a Japanese airport, causing a significant crater in a taxiway. Despite the explosion, which led to the cancellation of over 80 flights, fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the incident. The detonation occurred at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, with officials from the Land and Transport Ministry confirming that no aircraft were in close proximity when the bomb exploded.
Following an investigation by the Self-Defense Forces and the police, it was determined that the explosion resulted from a 500-pound US bomb. Authorities assured that there was no ongoing threat and were actively working to ascertain the sudden activation of the bomb. Videos captured by a nearby aviation school depicted the explosion ejecting pieces of asphalt into the air, resembling a fountain. Further footage broadcasted on Japanese television displayed a crater in the taxiway measuring approximately 7 meters in diameter and 1 meter deep.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi disclosed that more than 80 flights had to be cancelled at Miyazaki Airport. Efforts were being made to resume operations at the airport by the following morning. Miyazaki Airport, constructed in 1943, previously served as an Imperial Japanese Navy flight training field and was utilised for suicide attack missions by kamikaze pilots during the war. The Defense Ministry officials noted that several unexploded US bombs from World War II have been unearthed in the region, with hundreds of tons of such bombs still buried across Japan and occasionally discovered during construction projects.
This incident sheds light on the historical remnants of the war that continue to impact Japan’s landscape, posing challenges and risks even decades after the conflict ended. As the investigation into the sudden detonation of the US bomb progresses, authorities are reminded of the importance of diligent precautions and protocols in dealing with unexploded ordnance to ensure public safety and mitigate potential hazards in the future.