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Japan airport shut after most likely WW2-era bomb blows up near runway, 87 flights cancelled

A local airport in southwest Japan was closed on Wednesday after a U.S. bombshell, most likely dropped throughout World War Two to stem kamikaze attacks, blew up near its runway, triggering nearly 90 flight cancellations.

Miyazaki Airport shut its runway after the surge caused a crater 7 metres (23 feet) broad and one metre (3.2 feet). deep in the middle of the taxiway next to the runway, according. to a Japanese transportation ministry official.

A bomb disposal group from the Japan Ground Self-Defense. Force later on discovered that the reason for the explosion was an. American bomb that had been buried underneath the land surface area,. most likely dating to a wartime air raid, the official stated.

No injuries were reported however live cam video revealed an. aircraft had actually been cabbing nearby just 2 minutes before the. explosion, according to local broadcaster MRT.

The runway shutdown has resulted in the grounding of 87 flights. however there is no risk of any further surges and repair. works to fill the hole ought to be finished by Thursday early morning,. said Japan's leading government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi.

The affected flights were run by JAL, ANA. and other airline companies connecting Miyazaki with cities such. as Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka, according to the airport website.

Found at the southeast end of Kyushu island, Miyazaki. airport was formerly a Japanese navy base until the end of World. War 2, from where numerous young kamikaze pilots set off. on their last missions, according to the Miyazaki city website.

Numerous unexploded bombs have previously been discovered at. Miyazaki airport, the transportation ministry authorities stated.

More than 79 years considering that the end of the war, unexploded. bombs from the extreme airstrikes are still found throughout Japan. today. An overall of 2,348 bombs weighing 37.5 tonnes were disposed. of throughout fiscal year 2023, the Self-Defense Forces have stated.

(source: Reuters)