In a shocking turn of events, a World War II-era unexploded American bomb detonated at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan on Wednesday, creating a substantial crater in the taxiway and forcing the cancellation of more than 80 flights. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and authorities confirmed that no aircraft were in the vicinity at the time of the explosion.

Japanese officials from the Land and Transport Ministry confirmed that the explosive device was a 500-pound bomb dating back to the war. An investigation led by the Self-Defense Forces and local police is currently underway to determine the cause of the bomb's unexpected detonation.

Footage captured by a nearby aviation school vividly illustrates the powerful explosion, which launched debris and asphalt high into the air. Television reports showed the crater left behind, measuring approximately 7 meters (about 23 feet) in diameter and 1 meter (3 feet) deep.

According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the airport experienced significant disruptions, with more than 80 flights being canceled by mid-afternoon Wednesday. Fortunately, prompt repairs to the damaged taxiway were completed overnight, allowing flights to resume early Thursday morning.

Interestingly, Miyazaki Airport has a storied history itself; it was originally built in 1943 as a training field for the Imperial Japanese Navy, with some pilots departing on notorious suicide missions from its runways.

Defense Ministry officials noted that the discovery of unexploded ordnance in the region is not uncommon, as hundreds of tons from the WWII era remain buried beneath Japan's surface. These relics are sometimes unearthed during construction projects, underscoring the lingering dangers that come with such historical warfare.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as investigations continue into the cause of this startling incident!