An unexploded US World War II bomb buried at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan exploded on Wednesday, creating a crater on a taxiway and leading to the cancellation of over 80 flights. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Firefighters received a call from the airport at 7:59 am for an incident involving smoke. According to Japanese officials, an investigation revealed that the explosion was the result of a 500-pound US bomb that was detonated. The reason for the detonation is still being determined. No aircraft were nearby when the bomb exploded.
Video footage from a nearby aviation school that was broadcast on Japanese television captured the blast, which sent asphalt debris into the air. The crater created by the explosion reportedly spanned 23 feet in diameter and was 3 feet deep
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that more than 80 flight cancellations have occurred as a result and the explosion. Hayashi further stated that the airport is hoping to resume operations by Thursday morning, according to CBS News.
"There is no threat of a second explosion, and police and firefighters are currently examining the scene," Hayashi said.
Miyazaki Airport was originally built in 1943 as an Imperial Japanese Navy flight training field and was a frequent launch point for kamikaze pilots. The Defense Ministry explained that several unexploded bombs dropped by the US in World War II have been discovered in nearby areas.
Bombs were previously unearthed in the area in 2009 and 2011, with additional unexploded ordnance occasionally discovered during construction projects. According to a report by Reuters, 2,348 bombs were disposed of during the 2023 fiscal year.
