Explosion at Miyazaki Airport Causes Chaos
TOKYO — In a shocking turn of events, a US bomb buried at Miyazaki Airport in Japan exploded on Wednesday, leaving a massive crater in a taxiway and disrupting the travel plans of thousands. Over 80 flights had to be canceled as a result of the minor blast, which created a hole approximately seven meters (23 feet) wide. Despite the destruction, fortunately, no casualties were reported, and no aircraft were in the vicinity at the time of the explosion.
The bomb, believed to have been dropped during World War Two to deter “kamikaze” planes on suicide missions, detonated at the airport located in south-west Japan. “There is no threat of a second explosion, and police and firefighters are currently examining the scene,” stated chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. The authorities are working tirelessly to ensure the airport can resume operations by Thursday.
A bomb disposal team from Japan’s Self-Defense Forces confirmed that the blast originated from a 500lb US bomb. While the exact date of the bomb drop remains unconfirmed, local media speculates that it occurred during World War Two.
Miyazaki Airport, situated at the southeast end of Kyushu island, was originally established in 1943 as an imperial Japanese navy base. This incident is not the first time unexploded ordinance has been discovered in the area, with reports of similar findings at a nearby construction site in 2009 and 2011.
Unexploded bombs from past conflicts continue to pose a threat in Japan, with Reuters news agency revealing that a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 41 tonnes were disposed of in 2023 alone. The legacy of war still lingers beneath the surface, reminding the nation of the challenges it has overcome. — BBC
