A regional airport in southwest Japan was closed on Wednesday following an explosion believed to be caused by an American bomb from World War II, which was likely dropped to thwart "kamikaze" attacks. The blast occurred near the runway at Miyazaki Airport, resulting in nearly 90 flight cancellations.

The explosion created a crater measuring seven meters (approximately 23 feet) wide and one meter (about 3.2 feet) deep in the taxiway adjacent to the runway, according to officials from Japan's transport ministry. A bomb disposal team from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force confirmed that the blast was caused by an American bomb buried underground, likely from a wartime air raid.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. However, footage captured by local broadcaster MRT showed an airplane taxiing nearby just two minutes before the explosion occurred.

The runway closure has grounded 87 flights, primarily operated by JAL, ANA, and other airlines, connecting Miyazaki to major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's top government spokesperson, assured that there was no risk of further explosions and indicated that repair work to fill the crater should be completed by Thursday morning.

Miyazaki Airport, located on the southeastern tip of Kyushu island, was formerly a Japanese navy base during World War II, from which many young "kamikaze" pilots launched their final missions. The transport ministry official noted that unexploded bombs have been discovered at the airport in the past.

Even 79 years after the conclusion of the war, unexploded ordnance from the extensive air raids still poses a threat in Japan. The Self-Defense Forces reported disposing of a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 37.5 tons during the fiscal year 2023.