A regional airport in southwest Japan was closed on Wednesday after a US bomb, likely dropped during World War Two to counter 'kamikaze' attacks, detonated near its runway, leading to nearly 90 flight cancellations. Miyazaki Airport halted operations after the explosion created a crater seven meters wide and one meter deep on the taxiway adjacent to the runway, according to a Japanese transport ministry official.
A bomb disposal team from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force later identified the cause of the explosion as an American bomb buried beneath the surface, possibly dating back to a wartime air raid. No injuries were reported, but live camera footage from local broadcaster MRT showed an airplane taxiing nearby just two minutes before the explosion.
The runway closure resulted in the cancellation of 87 flights. However, there is no risk of further explosions, and repair work to fill the hole is expected to be completed by Thursday morning, according to Japan's top government spokesperson, Yoshimasa Hayashi. The affected flights were operated by JAL, ANA, and other airlines connecting Miyazaki with cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka, as per the airport's website.
Located at the southeast end of Kyushu island, Miyazaki airport was formerly a Japanese navy base until the end of World War Two, from which hundreds of young 'kamikaze' pilots embarked on their final missions, according to the Miyazaki city website. The transport ministry official also noted that multiple unexploded bombs have been found at Miyazaki airport in the past. More than 79 years after the war, unexploded bombs from intense airstrikes are still being discovered across Japan. The Self-Defense Forces reported that a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 37.5 tonnes were disposed of during fiscal year 2023.
