TOKYO — A blast at a facility for storing unexploded ordnance at a U.S. military base on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa resulted in injuries to four Japanese soldiers, officials reported on Monday. The injuries are not life-threatening, offering some relief in the wake of the unexpected incident.
The injured soldiers suffered finger injuries during their duties at the site, which is operated by the Okinawa prefecture. This storage area temporarily houses unexploded ordnance, mostly remnants from wartime which are frequently found on the island. Okinawa was the site of one of World War II’s most intense battles, leaving behind a legacy of unexploded devices.
Details about the exact nature of the injuries remain scant, but officials have confirmed that the soldiers’ lives are not in danger.
The U.S. Air Force reported that the explosion occurred in the munitions storage area of Kadena Air Base, a facility managed by the Okinawa prefectural government. It was emphasized that no U.S. servicemembers were involved in the event.
According to the Self Defense Force’s (SDF) joint staff, the explosion took place when one of the devices unexpectedly detonated as the soldiers attempted an inspection. NHK television also mentioned that the soldiers were in the process of removing rust from the device when it exploded.
The SDF is currently investigating to determine the exact cause of the incident.
This incident is reportedly the first of its kind since the establishment of the Japanese army’s unexploded ordnance disposal unit in 1974.
Japan continues to grapple with the remnants of conflict, as hundreds of tons of unexploded bombs from the war, largely dropped by U.S. forces, remain buried across the country. They are occasionally uncovered during construction work and other activities. Okinawa alone is believed to have around 1,856 tons of such unexploded ordnance.
Only a few months prior, in October, another wartime U.S. bomb exploded at a commercial airport in southern Japan, causing a significant crater and leading to the suspension of numerous flights. This highlights the ongoing risk and challenge posed by unexploded ordnance throughout the region.