On 2 October 2024, a 500-pound bomb from the Second World War exploded at Miyazaki airport in Japan. It left a huge crater on the road. After the accident, all upcoming flights were stopped and cancelled. The airport became site of the explosion and bomb fragments which were too close to the runway. After World War II, in airports like Miyazaki built on former military sites, thousands of unexploded bombs are still being found during earthworks or construction work. It is undoubtedly a major problem.
Report of the Explosion
The bomb detonated in the morning near the taxiway, as a result of which a funnel 7 meters wide and 1 meter deep formed in the asphalt. Immediately after, 80 flights were cancelled and major domestic routes were changed while the workers checked the scene. One of the planes before the moment of the explosion had passed nearby and miraculously avoided tragedy and a larger disaster.
The bomb itself appeared in that place not by chance – it was most likely dropped during the Second World War wartime air raid. It laid motionless for decades, waiting for its hour. The same airport was also found to have other 2,300 unexploded bombs last year. This demonstrates that the area of Japan continues to deal with the reminder of past military conflicts. Even though the Japanese Self-Defense Forces safely dispose of thousands of found bombs weighing several tens of tons each year, explosions are still occurring.
Response of the Japan’s Government and Ground Self-Defense Force.
After the explosion, the Japan Army Self-Defense Forces quickly assessed the situation and confirmed the type of bomb that had exploded, based on data from the bomb disposal team. The authorities also reacted and the area was enclosed for inspection. No other unexploded ordnance threatening public safety was found. Right after the inspection repair work began to restore the damaged taxiway from a crater. The rapid response of security offices allowed the airport to quickly deal with the consequences of the unexpected accident. Having minimal disruption, they reopened the airport the next day. The government’s swift reaction illustrated the value of developing organised reaction strategies for such incidents.
Public Safety
The problem of sleeping ammunitions in public places concerns not only Japan. After World War II, unexploded bombs continue to be found in many other countries, threatening the safety of populations and infrastructure. Even 79 years after the end of the fighting, these long-term consequences do not let it to be forgotten. To prevent such unforeseen incidents, the Japanese government continues to conduct regular inspections of areas such as airports and construction sites, and also organizes campaigns to raise awareness of the population about possible threats from suspicious objects.
