On October 2, 2024, a World War II-era bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, creating a significant crater on a taxiway. The explosion occurred during routine airport operations, leading to the cancellation of over 80 flights. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as officials confirmed that there were no aircraft in the immediate vicinity at the time of the blast​.

The bomb, weighing approximately 230 kilograms (500 pounds), had been buried since the war and is part of a troubling legacy in Japan, where unexploded ordnance from World War II remains a persistent issue. The airport, originally established in 1943 as a base for the Imperial Japanese Navy, has had similar incidents in the past. In fact, Japan disposed of 2,348 unexploded bombs weighing a total of 41 tons in 2023 alone.

Following the explosion, Japan's Self-Defense Forces dispatched a bomb disposal team to ensure that no further threats remained. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reassured the public that there was no risk of a second explosion, and operations at the airport were expected to resume shortly.

The incident underscores the ongoing challenges Japan faces from the remnants of its wartime past, with many unexploded bombs still buried in various locations across the country.