Third unexploded bomb found at Naha Airport construction site

Third unexploded bomb found at Naha Airport construction site

A 250-kilogram U.S.-made unexploded ordinance was found (in between the pictured safety cones) at Naha Airport’s Runway 1 construction site. Photographed by Naoya Oshiro on the afternoon of April 29.


April 30, 2020 Ryukyu Shimpo

Around 2 a.m. on April 29, a U.S.-made 250-kilogram bomb, presumed to be a World War II relic, was found at Naha Airport’s Runway 1 construction site. Due to this, Runway 1 will be closed from April 29, leaving only Runway 2 operational. According to Naha Airport, the discovery did not cause any cancelled or delayed flights that day–a protective steel plate was placed over the bomb to prevent its detonation at 6:04 a.m., before the first flight of the day.

This is the third unexploded ordinance to be unearthed at Runway 1, following the two that were found on April 17 and 23. The latest bomb was discovered in close proximity to the one that was uncovered on the 17th. The first two bombs have already been disposed of. According to a source, the area has never been excavated for construction. The ordinances were found in succession due to the ongoing construction of a taxiway.
According to the airport, a number of five-inch naval artillery were found while reclaiming land for Runway 2, on-site and in the nearby waters. Naha Airport wants Runway 1 up and running as soon as possible, and has requested for a swift disposal of the ordinance. The city of Naha will be holding a meeting with the parties concerned sometime after April 30, to decide when to dispose of the ordinance.

The latest bomb is U.S.-made, has a diameter of approximately 360 millimeters, weighs 250 kilograms, measures approximately 1190 millimeters long, and weighs 250 kilograms.

(English translation by T&CT and Monica Shingaki)

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