Over 100 WWII-Era Bombs Blasted In Massive Detonation Off Coast Of Okinawa

Blast From The Past.

Okinawa, Japan was the site of one the most ferocious battles of World War II. The Battle of Okinawa took place over the course of two months in a bloody conflict that claimed the lives of over 12,000 American soldiers. The fighting left plenty of evidence behind, especially in terms of unexploded munitions as authorities dispose of them from the Island.

Over 100 WWII-era munitions were gathered off the coast of Okinawa in plans for a controlled detonation. Most of the 103 bombs were from American weaponry that pummelled the former military base the island was known for. The shells were located by metal detector and placed in the waters about one kilometer off the shore to be detonated.

“Ships were prevented from coming within 300 meters of the disposal site during the operation, and swimming was banned within a 3-kilometer radius.”

It is estimated that there could 2,000 tons of bombs remaining undiscovered which could take up to another 70 years to dispose of them properly. The detonation produced a massive explosion and no one was hurt in the process.