A US bombshell explosion at Miyazaki Airport in Japan caused the cancellation of nearly 90 flights on Wednesday. The blast, likely from World War II, left a seven-meter-wide crater near the runway, damaging it and forcing the closure of the airport. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident raised concerns as an airplane was taxiing near the blast site shortly before the explosion. The bomb disposal team identified the cause of the blast as a buried US bomb dating back to a wartime air raid.
Miyazaki Airport, previously a Japanese navy base where “kamikaze” pilots departed on their final missions during World War II, has had previous instances of finding unexploded US bombs on its premises. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of unexploded bombs still being found across Japan, more than 79 years after the war ended. In the last fiscal year, Self-Defense Forces disposed of 2,348 bombs weighing a total of 37.5 tonnes.
Repair works to fill the crater and reopen the runway at the airport are expected to be completed by Thursday morning. The cancellation of flights affected passengers traveling to and from cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Officials are working to ensure the safety of the airport and prevent similar incidents in the future as they continue to address the remnants of past conflicts.
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