An American World War II-era bomb buried beneath Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan exploded on Wednesday, causing a significant disruption to airport operations. The explosion created a crater on a busy taxiway, leading to the cancellation of more than 80 flights.
Fortunately, there were no aircraft nearby at the time of the explosion, and no injuries were reported. The bomb, identified as a 500-pound WWII-era bomb, detonated suddenly, leaving investigators puzzled about the cause.
Miyazaki Airport, originally built in 1943 as a former Imperial Japanese Navy flight training field, has a historical connection to WWII. The airport served as a departure point for kamikaze pilots on suicide missions during the war.
A video captured by a nearby aviation school showed the force of the blast sending asphalt debris into the air. Television footage broadcasted in Japan displayed a sizable crater on the taxiway, measuring approximately 20 feet in diameter and 3 feet deep.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed the cancellation of flights and expressed hopes for the airport to resume operations by Thursday morning. The incident highlighted the presence of unexploded WWII-era bombs in the region, with Defense Ministry officials noting the discovery of several such bombs in the area.
Japan continues to grapple with the legacy of WWII, with hundreds of tons of unexploded bombs remaining buried across the country. These remnants of the war occasionally resurface during construction activities, posing risks to public safety and infrastructure.
