Latest News

WWII-era bomb explodes at Japan’s Miyazaki Airport, flights cancelled

Bomb explodes on taxiway at Miyazaki Airport in Japan

Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan was shut down on Wednesday (Oct 2) after a buried World War II-era bomb exploded near the runway, creating a large crater and forcing the cancellation of 87 flights.

According to The Straits Times, the explosion caused a crater 7 metres wide and 1 metre deep in the taxiway next to the airport’s runway.

A bomb disposal team from Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force identified the source of the explosion as a US bomb likely dropped during World War II air raids.

Authorities said no one was injured by the blast, according to Kyodo News. However, local broadcaster MRT revealed that an airplane had been taxiing nearby just two minutes before the explosion.

Flights suspended throughout the day

All inbound and outbound flights at Miyazaki Airport were suspended, with 87 flights affected, including those operated by Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), and other carriers connecting Miyazaki to Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.

A Japanese Government official said the situation posed no further risk and that repair work on the runway would be completed by the morning of Oct 3.

MRT reported that authorities received a call at 8.10am after the explosion was heard. Footage from TBS News shows the explosion occurring just before 8am,

Source: TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN on Youtube

Both police and fire departments were dispatched to investigate, Channel NewsAsia reported. It also said the blast appeared to have happened at least 100m away from the terminal building.

Officials indicated that the bomb, which had been buried under the surface, likely dates back to air raids aimed at preventing kamikaze attacks.

Source: Kyodo News

Miyazaki Airport, a former Japanese navy base, was a key site during World War II, from where kamikaze pilots set off on their final missions.

 

Despite being nearly 80 years since the end of the war, unexploded ordnance from that era is still found across Japan.

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces disposed of 37.5 tonnes of unexploded bombs in fiscal year 2023 alone.

In 2009, an unexploded bomb from World War II was discovered at a construction site in Miyazaki. This then led to Miyazaki Airport cancelling flights and authorities evacuating around 1,700 residents.

An explosives disposal unit spent about two and a half hours removing the bomb before it was taken to an undisclosed location, said NBC News.

Also read: Woman arrested in Thailand for allegedly making bomb threat on VietJet plane, airline decides to let her go

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN on Youtube and Kyodo News.

Buranond Kijwatanachai

I'm the kind of guy who says he loves reading, but the books I actually read have more pictures than words.

Recent Posts

Continuous heavy traffic expected at S’pore-JB checkpoints till end of 2024: ICA

A record of more than 553,000 travellers crossed both checkpoints on 13 Dec.

22 Dec 2024, 7:25 pm

H5N1 poses ‘highest risk’ of becoming next pandemic, S’pore health authorities monitoring situation

There has been no year-end Covid-19 wave, as had been expected.

22 Dec 2024, 6:42 pm

Wagyu beef worth S$5,700 found in car entering JB from S’pore, M’sian driver arrested

The beef was imported without a veterinary health certificate and halal certification.

22 Dec 2024, 5:40 pm

Long queue forms at Jalan Besar Stadium for tickets to ASEAN Championship semi-final

One fan started queueing as early as 7am.

22 Dec 2024, 4:50 pm

Toys“R”Us in Japan sends parcels in plain boxes before Christmas, praised for protecting ‘Santa’s surprise’

The company made the change after parents said they wanted to make sure their gifts…

22 Dec 2024, 4:36 pm

Google Maps helps Spanish police arrest murder suspects caught transporting corpse on Street View

An incredible twist of fortune for the police -- and a stroke of bad luck…

22 Dec 2024, 2:59 pm