A regional airport in southwest Japan, Miyazaki Airport, was closed on Wednesday after a World War II-era bomb exploded near its runway, resulting in nearly 90 flight cancellations. The explosion created a large crater that measured 7 meters (about 23 feet) wide and 1 meter (around 3.2 feet) deep on a taxiway adjacent to the runway.
The bomb, which was likely American and had been buried underground since the war, was discovered by a bomb disposal team from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. It was believed to have been dropped during an air raid aimed at stopping "kamikaze" attacks. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but live camera footage showed that an airplane had been taxiing nearby just two minutes before the explosion, according to local broadcaster MRT.
The closure of the runway affected 87 flights, with airlines like JAL and ANA grounding flights to major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Japan's top government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi, stated that there was no danger of further explosions, and repairs to fill the crater were expected to be completed by Thursday morning.
Miyazaki Airport is located at the southeastern end of Kyushu island and was previously a Japanese navy base during World War II, serving as a launch point for many "kamikaze" pilots on their final missions. The airport has a history of unexploded ordnance, with several bombs discovered in the past.
Even after more than 79 years since the end of World War II, unexploded bombs from the intense airstrikes are still occasionally found across Japan. In fiscal year 2023 alone, the Self-Defense Forces disposed of 2,348 bombs weighing a total of 37.5 tonnes.
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