Bussiness
In a World War II reminder for Japan, war-era bomb detonates at airport
A World War II era US bomb detonated at Miyazaki airport in Japan.(Photo: Reuters)
The horrors of the Second World War continue to haunt Japan. On Wednesday, October 2, a US bomb from the war, long buried beneath a Japanese airport, detonated unexpectedly, leaving a large crater on a taxiway and leading to the cancellation of over 80 flights, though fortunately, no one was injured.
Citing the Land and Transport Ministry, several media outlets reported that no aircraft were nearby when the explosion occurred at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan.
Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp
An investigation by the Self-Defense Forces and police confirmed that a 500-pound US bomb was responsible for the explosion, and no further threat remains. The cause of the sudden explosion could not be determined. However, authorities are investigating the cause of the bomb’s sudden detonation, reported AFP.
Footage from a local aviation school captured the moment of the blast, showing asphalt debris shooting into the air. Japanese television later aired videos depicting the crater, which was reportedly 7 metres (23 feet) wide and 1 metre (3 feet) deep.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi confirmed that more than 80 flights were cancelled, but the airport hoped to resume services by Thursday morning, reported Reuters.
Originally built in 1943 as a training field for the Imperial Japanese Navy, Miyazaki Airport was once a site from which kamikaze pilots embarked on their missions during the war.
Defence Ministry officials noted that the region has seen the discovery of several unexploded bombs dropped by the US military during the war. Across Japan, hundreds of tonnes of unexploded ordnance remain buried, with many being unearthed during construction work.
The presence of unexploded bombs continues to be a pressing issue for Japan, where hidden remnants of the conflict still pose risks to public safety. Even now, more than 79 years since the end of the Second World War, unexploded bombs are still found throughout Japan. The Self-Defense Forces reported that, in FY23 alone, 2,348 bombs weighing a total of 37.5 tonnes were safely disposed of.
Notably, this issue is not limited to Japan. Last year, a World War II bomb unearthed in England exploded unexpectedly in what authorities described as an “unplanned” detonation.
First Published: Oct 03 2024 | 9:41 AM IST
Donald Trump Picks Pam Bondi As US Attorney General After Matt Gaetz’s Withdrawal
Gautam Adani: How US fraud charges against him impact India’s economy and politics
US briefed Ukraine ahead of Putin’s ‘experimental Intermediate-range ballistic’ attack
US SEC Chief Gary Gensler To Step Down Clearing Way For Trump’s Pick
Russia Ukraine war: Putin warns West as ‘new missile’ fired
The 10 best elementary, middle schools in Georgia, according to U.S. News & World Report
Putin, Ukraine, long-range missiles and why there’s talk about WWIII
3 Savannah-area middle schools rank in top 100 in Georgia, U.S. News & World Report says
Russia Puts US Base In Poland On Priority List For “Potential Elimination”
