An explosion occurred at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Monday, injuring four members of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) during a bomb disposal training exercise.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, the blast happened while personnel were conducting a drill aimed at neutralizing explosive devices. All four injured soldiers sustained minor wounds and are reportedly in stable condition.
Japanese broadcaster NHK reported that the explosion likely originated from a temporary storage area for unexploded ordnance. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Yuta Matsuda, a local official from Yomitan Village near the air base, stated: “We’ve only been informed that there was an explosion and some injuries. Further details have not yet been shared.”
Local authorities confirmed there was no need for evacuation, and no emergency alert was issued in surrounding areas.
Kadena Air Base is the largest U.S. military air facility in the Asia-Pacific region and has long been a source of tension among Okinawa’s residents due to the heavy U.S. military presence.
In a separate development, Japan’s Ministry of Defense reported that a Chinese aircraft carrier group entered Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for the first time and conducted aerial exercises. The fleet included the Liaoning aircraft carrier, two missile destroyers, and a support vessel.
