Unexploded US bomb causes minor blast at Japan airport

Published October 2, 2024
The taxiway at a Japanese aiport in Kyushu is damaged by an explosion on October 2. — Screengrab via X (@nhk_news)
The taxiway at a Japanese aiport in Kyushu is damaged by an explosion on October 2. — Screengrab via X (@nhk_news)

An unexploded US bomb caused a minor blast at a regional Japanese airport, officials said on Wednesday, with reports saying that the device likely dated from World War II.

Footage on Japanese media showed a cloud of dust rising from a blast on a taxiway at Miyazaki Airport on the island of Kyushu. The airport in southern Japan originated in 1943 as an Imperial Japanese Navy base, sending dozens of “kamikaze” aircraft on suicide missions.

There were no reports of injuries but dozens of flights were cancelled. The airport confirmed part of a taxiway had caved in.

“After investigation with the Self-Defense Forces, we concluded that it is an explosion of a US unexploded bomb,” a transport ministry official told AFP. The official added that it was not known whether the bomb was dropped during World War II, though local media reported it likely was.

Other unexploded ordnance dropped by the United States was reportedly found at a nearby construction site in 2009 and 2011.

A total of 55 flights were cancelled, according to All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, affecting more than 3,400 passengers.

Top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said the airport aimed to resume operations on Thursday. “There is no threat of a second explosion, and police and firefighters are currently examining the scene,” Hayashi said.

The fire department “received a call from the airport at 7:59 am (2259 GMT Tuesday) that there was an incident involving smoke,” its spokesman told AFP.

Opinion

Editorial

Peak of success
06 Oct, 2024

Peak of success

IT started with the ascent of Nanga Parbat in 2017 and ended with the summit of Tibet’s Shishapangma on Thursday....
Indian visitor
06 Oct, 2024

Indian visitor

AMONGST the host of foreign dignitaries expected to fly into Islamabad for the SCO Council of Heads of Government...
Violence once again
06 Oct, 2024

Violence once again

IT is déjà vu once more. Over the last couple of days, we have once more witnessed an intense stand-off in...
Controversial timing
Updated 05 Oct, 2024

Controversial timing

While the judgment undoes a past wrong, it risks being perceived as enabling a myopic political agenda.
ML-1’s prospects
05 Oct, 2024

ML-1’s prospects

ONE of the signature projects envisaged under the CPEC umbrella is the Mainline-1 railway scheme, which is yet to ...
No breathing space
05 Oct, 2024

No breathing space

THIS is the time of the year when city dwellers across Punjab start choking on toxic air. Soon the harmful air will...