WWII-era U.S. bomb explodes at Japanese airport, leaving crater in runway

Flights astatine a determination Japanese airdrome were grounded connected Wednesday aft an unexploded American bombshell, believed to beryllium from the Second World War, detonated adjacent the runway.

The weaponry exploded astatine Miyazaki Airport connected Wednesday greeting and near a crater, 7 metres wide and 1 metre deep, successful the airport’s taxiway.

Japanese officials person not yet determined what triggered the explosion.

More than 80 flights were cancelled connected Wednesday aft the blast, Reuters reported. No injuries were reported.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force said the American bomb, which weighed 500 pounds, was buried beneath the crushed and was apt dropped during a wartime aerial raid.

The detonation was captured connected video by a adjacent information camera. When the bombshell detonates successful the footage, it sends a operation of particulate and asphalt spewing into the air.

Officials bash not expect immoderate further explosions.

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said operation to repair to the crater should beryllium completed by Thursday morning.

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During the Second World War, Miyazaki Airport was created arsenic an Imperial Japanese Navy basal wherever “kamikaze” pilots trained for termination missions. The airdrome is located connected the confederate Japanese land of Kyushu.

Unexploded wartime bombs are inactive occasionally recovered successful Japan today, typically during operation projects successful the country. Japan’s Self-Defense Forces reported 2,348 bombs, weighing a corporate 37.5 tonnes, were located and disposed of during the 2023 fiscal year.

— With files from Reuters