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A US bomb, reportedly buried at a Japanese airport since World War II, detonated on Wednesday, creating a large crater in a taxiway. According to a BBC report, this incident resulted in the cancellation of over 80 flights, though no injuries were reported.
The crater at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan measured 7 meters wide and 1 meter deep. Officials from the Land and Transport Ministry stated that there were no aircraft in proximity when the bomb exploded, as reported by The Guardian.
"There is no risk of a second explosion, and police and firefighters are currently investigating the area," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, adding that the airport is aiming to reopen on Thursday.
A bomb disposal team from Japan's Self-Defense Forces, along with police, confirmed that the explosion was caused by a nearly 230 kg US bomb. They assured that there was no ongoing threat, according to BBC.
A video captured by individuals at a nearby aviation school showed the blast ejecting chunks of asphalt into the air like a fountain.
USJP An American WWII bomb detonated beneath the runway at Miyazaki Airport, Japan. No injuries were reported, but 80 flights were canceled. The airport, established in 1943, has a history of unexploded ordnance in the vicinity.
As noted by The Guardian, Miyazaki Airport was constructed in 1943, originally serving as a flight training ground for the Imperial Japanese Navy, from which some kamikaze pilots launched their suicide missions.
Unexploded ordnance dropped by the US during the war has been discovered at a nearby construction site in both 2009 and 2011, according to BBC. Many unexploded bombs remain buried across Japan. Reuters reported that a total of 2,348 bombs, weighing 41 tonnes, were safely disposed of in 2023.