An explosion rocked the US's largest airbase in Asia-Pacific at Kadena in Okinawa on Monday, reports said, citing defence sources. Reports suggest that a blast occurred in a storage facility used temporarily to house unexploded munitions at the base.
The blast occurred around 11:20 am local time, injuring at least four members of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces (SDF), according to military sources cited by NHK and Jiji Press. None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.
The affected base was reportedly operated by the SDF’s unexploded ordnance disposal team and is located within the US military’s largest air base in the Asia-Pacific region, which provides extra leverage to its forces against China.
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Local authorities and emergency services responded to the incident in Yomitan Village. Kadena Air Base has yet to issue a formal statement, as both Japanese and US military officials continue to assess the extent of the damage.
Kadena Air Base, located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, is the largest and most strategically significant US Air Force installation in the Asia-Pacific region. Often referred to as the “Keystone of the Pacific,” the base spans more than 2,000 hectares and houses approximately 20,000 personnel. It serves as the headquarters of the US Air Force’s 18th Wing, the largest combat wing in the service.
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