An unexploded American bomb from World War II detonated at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, causing a significant crater in a taxiway. The explosion led to the cancellation of over 80 flights but fortunately resulted in no injuries, according to Japanese officials.
The Land and Transport Ministry confirmed that the blast, which occurred on Wednesday, was triggered by a 500-pound US bomb. Fortunately, no aircraft were in the vicinity when the explosion took place, averting a potential disaster.
An investigation conducted by the Self-Defense Forces and police concluded that there was no ongoing threat following the explosion. Authorities are now working to determine the cause of the bomb's sudden detonation.
Footage captured by a nearby aviation school depicted the explosion sending asphalt debris high into the air, resembling a fountain. Television broadcasts in Japan showcased a crater on 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 canceled at Miyazaki Airport. The airport management aims to resume operations by Thursday morning, following necessary safety assessments and repairs.
Miyazaki Airport, established in 1943 as a former Imperial Japanese Navy flight training field, holds historical significance as a site from which kamikaze pilots embarked on suicide missions during the war.
Defense Ministry officials noted that the region has previously unearthed unexploded bombs dropped by the US military during World War II. Japan still grapples with the legacy of the war, with hundreds of tons of unexploded ordnance remaining buried across the country and occasionally discovered during construction activities.
