Unexploded ordnance believed to have been used in the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War was found in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, and disposal work was carried out on the 7th.
The disposal work was carried out in the West Futenma residential area of Ginowan City, which was returned from the US military in 2015. According to the city, the unexploded ordnance was discovered during road construction in December last year.
It measures 11 centimeters in diameter and 42 centimeters in length, and appears to be a naval cannonball fired by the American military during the Battle of Okinawa at the end of the Pacific War.
There is a U.S. military facility within an 88 meter radius that is subject to evacuation, and after confirming that the U.S. military had evacuated from the facility, the city began processing operations at 10 a.m. on the 7th.
The processing was carried out using a new method using a special steel container, which is being used on a trial basis by the Okinawa General Secretariat of the Cabinet Office, and took about 45 minutes.
Ginowan City Crisis Management Director Mikio Izumikawa said, ``I'm relieved that it was disposed of safely.Unexploded ordnance from the last war has been found in various parts of the prefecture.In the future, if unexploded ordnance is discovered in this area, it will affect the lives of residents.'' I want to resolve the matter quickly so there is no anxiety."
It is estimated that there are still an estimated 1,878 tons of unexploded ordnance left in Okinawa Prefecture, and there are many cases of unexploded ordnance being found at construction sites, and in recent years about 15 tons have been disposed of every year.