An American World War II-era bomb buried beneath Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan exploded Wednesday, creating a crater in a busy taxiway and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights. Fortunately, there were no aircraft nearby and no injuries were reported.
On Wednesday, an American World War II-era bomb buried beneath Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan exploded, causing a crater in a busy taxiway and forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights. The explosion occurred without warning, and investigators are still determining what caused the sudden detonation.
WWII-Era Bomb Explosion at Japanese Airport Craters Taxiway, Forces Flight Cancellations
According to Land and Transport Ministry officials, there were no aircraft nearby and no injuries were reported when the bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport. The airport was built in 1943 as a former Imperial Japanese Navy flight training field, and some kamikaze pilots took off on suicide attack missions from the site.
An aerial view taken from a helicopter shows a crater from the explosion, which spewed pieces of asphalt into the air like a fountain. Videos broadcast on Japanese TV showed a crater in the taxiway roughly 20 feet in diameter and around 3 feet deep.
WWII-Era Bomb Explosion at Japanese Airport Craters Taxiway, Forces Flight Cancellations
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said more than 80 flights were canceled at the international airport, which hopes to resume operations by Thursday morning. The explosion has raised concerns about the safety of other unexploded bombs that may still be buried around Japan from the World War II era.
Defense Ministry officials stated that many unexploded bombs dropped by the U.S. military during WWII have been unearthed in the area. Hundreds of tons of unexploded bombs from the war remain buried around Japan, and they are sometimes dug up at construction sites or in other areas that were previously used for military purposes.
WWII-Era Bomb Explosion at Japanese Airport Craters Taxiway, Forces Flight Cancellations
The Associated Press contributed to this report. The sudden explosion of the WWII-era bomb at Miyazaki Airport has highlighted the ongoing presence of unexploded ordnance in Japan, a reminder of the country's tumultuous history and the risks that remain from the past.
Experts have warned that the unexploded bombs pose significant safety hazards, and they have called for increased efforts to locate and remove them. The Japanese government has taken steps to address the problem, but the task is complex and time-consuming, and the presence of unexploded bombs remains a concern throughout the country.
The explosion at Miyazaki Airport has also reignited discussions about the legacy of the Japanese military in World War II. The airport was used as a training ground for kamikaze pilots, who carried out suicide attacks against Allied ships and targets. The airport's wartime history has added to the significance of the explosion and has prompted reflection on the human cost of war.
As the investigation into the explosion continues, authorities are working to ensure the safety of the airport and the surrounding area. The airport's closure has disrupted travel plans and caused inconvenience, but the focus remains on ensuring the safety of the public and preventing further accidents.
The explosion at Miyazaki Airport serves as a reminder of the enduring impact of war and the importance of ongoing efforts to locate and remove unexploded ordnance. The legacy of the past continues to shape the present, and it is essential to learn from the mistakes of the past to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
