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

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

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

Japanese officials person not yet wished what triggered nan explosion.

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

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

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

Officials do not expect immoderate further explosions.

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

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

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

— With files from Reuters