Unexploded WWII Bomb Detonates at Miyazaki Airport

Why in the news?

A World War II bomb detonated at Miyazaki Airport, disrupting operations and cancelling over 80 flights, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti, highlighting ongoing concerns about unexploded ordnance in Japan.

Unexploded WWII Bomb Detonates at Miyazaki Airport

Incident Overview:

  • A buried World War II-era bomb exploded near the runway of Miyazaki Airport in Japan on October 2, 2024.
  • The explosion created a crater, causing the cancellation of 87 flights and impacting both domestic and international routes.
  • The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force confirmed the bomb was American ordnance from the war.

Damage and Safety:

  • The explosion left an oval-shaped crater, 7 metres wide, 4 metres long, and 1 metre deep, near the taxiway.
  • No injuries were reported, and debris from the blast, including chunks of asphalt, was seen raining down.
  • Despite the damage, airport authorities swiftly repaired the affected areas overnight.

Operations Resumed:

  • Miyazaki Airport resumed normal operations on October 3, 2024, after repairs were completed.
  • The swift response minimised further disruption to flight schedules, allowing services to continue as usual.
  • The incident serves as a reminder of the lingering impact of World War II in regions like Japan.

About World War II :

  • Largest global conflict (1939–1945) involving Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) and Allies (France, Britain, US, Soviet Union, China).
  • 100 million militarised, 50 million deaths (~3% of global population).
  • Causes of War:
  • The Treaty of Versailles humiliate Germany.
  • League of Nations’ failure to
  • prevent aggression.
  • The Great Depression fueled militarism in Europe and Asia.
  • Rise of Fascism and Nazism; Hitler’s expansionism.
  • Policy of appeasement allowed early German territorial gains.
  • Key Events:
  • Germany invaded Poland (1939), starting the war.
  • Major battles: Blitzkrieg in France, Battle of Britain, Operation Barbarossa.
  • US entry after Pearl Harbor (1941); atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (1945).
  • War ended with Japan’s surrender on August 14, 1945.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times