Four Japanese soldiers injured in explosion at US base in Okinawa

Published on 09/06/2025 - 10:28 GMT+2

Four Japanese soldiers sustained non-life-threatening injuries pursuing an detonation astatine a retention installation for unexploded wartime ordnance connected a US subject guidelines successful Okinawa, section authorities confirmed connected Monday.

The incident occurred arsenic nan soldiers were moving astatine a tract managed by Okinawa prefecture to shop aged ordnance discovered crossed nan land — nan tract of 1 of nan fiercest battles of World War II.

According to officials, nan servicemen suffered injuries to their fingers during nan blast. No further accusation regarding nan quality of nan detonation aliases nan information of nan installation was instantly available.

Japan’s Self-Defence Forces said they were investigating nan explosion, which reportedly happened astatine aliases adjacent Kadena Air Base. 

A portion specialising successful nan disposal of unexploded bombs had been operating successful nan area astatine nan time.

The SDF added that efforts were nether measurement to find some nan origin and precise location of nan incident.

Large quantities of unexploded ordnance stay buried crossed Japan, particularly successful Okinawa, wherever aggravated US bombing took spot during nan last months of WWII. 

These remnants are often discovered during building aliases excavation works.

Last October, a wartime US explosive detonated astatine a commercialized airdrome successful confederate Japan, creating a important crater and forcing nan cancellation of dozens of flights.