Reports indicate at least four individuals were injured in an explosion at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, on Monday.
An explosion at a storage facility within the U.S. air base on Okinawa injured at least four people, according to reports from local media and defense sources.
The incident at Kadena Air Base occurred around 11:20 a.m. local time on Monday. Military sources cited by and stated that at least four members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF) sustained injuries, none of which are believed to be life-threatening.
The affected facility is reportedly used by the SDF’s unexploded ordnance disposal team to store unexploded munitions from past conflicts. It is located within the largest U.S. air base in the Asia-Pacific region.
Local authorities and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene in Yomitan Village. As of now, Kadena Air Base has not released an official statement, as both Japanese and U.S. military officials are still evaluating the extent of the damage.
Kadena Air Base, situated in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, is the U.S. Air Force’s largest and most strategically important installation in the Asia-Pacific. Often called the “Keystone of the Pacific,” the base covers more than 2,000 hectares and accommodates roughly 20,000 personnel. It is the headquarters for the U.S. Air Force’s 18th Wing, its largest combat wing.
Kadena is jointly operated with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces, including SDF logistics and ordnance teams, such as the one involved in the explosion on Monday. The base also regularly hosts temporary deployments of advanced U.S. aircraft, including F-22 Raptors and B-52 strategic bombers, and plays a crucial role in monitoring regional hotspots like North Korea, Taiwan, and the South China Sea.
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