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.
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