World War II Bomb Detonates Near Miyazaki Airport, Flights Canceled
An unexploded American bomb from World War II detonated on Wednesday near the runway of Miyazaki airport in southern Japan, leading to the airport's closure for the entire day. Fortunately, no injuries were reported following the incident that occurred around 8:10 AM local time. Local firefighters were alerted to an explosion heard in the vicinity of the aerodrome, prompting police to evacuate airport personnel and secure the area.
Upon inspection, local authorities and the airport operating company discovered a crater measuring approximately 7 meters in diameter and 1 meter deep on a taxiway adjacent to the runway. Security footage captured just moments before the explosion showed a plane taking off from the runway, underscoring the narrow window of time that separated the two events.
As a result of the explosion, the airport temporarily shut down operations, canceling a total of 66 scheduled flights as a precaution. The airport operator indicated that efforts were underway to restore normal flight operations by Thursday.
The Japan Self-Defense Forces dispatched an explosive detection and disarmament unit to the site to assess the situation. According to government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi, it was determined alongside other authorities that the source of the explosion was indeed an unexploded World War II bomb.
While specifics about the bomb remain unclear, Japanese media speculate it has been dormant since being dropped nearly 80 years ago by American military forces. This isn't the first time unexploded ordnance has been discovered in the area; in 2011 and 2009, two other bombs believed to be remnants of World War II were found during airport operations.
Miyazaki airport, built on a historic airfield of the Imperial Japanese Navy, has a history of uncovering such devices. The current investigation seeks to pinpoint how this latest bomb's explosion was activated, although officials have reassured the public that there is no imminent risk of further explosions in the area.
As the investigation continues, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the remnants of war that can linger long after conflicts have ended.
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