Blast rocks largest US air base in Asia-Pacific
An explosion rocked a storage depot used to temporarily house unexploded munitions at the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Monday, injuring at least four people, according to local media and defense sources.
The blast occurred around 11:20am local time, injuring four members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF), according to military sources cited by public broadcasters NHK and Jiji Press. None of the injuries were life-threatening, officials said.
The affected facility was reportedly operated by the Ground Self-Defense Force's unexploded ordnance disposal team and is located within the US military's largest air base in the Asia-Pacific region.
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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An explosion rocked a storage depot used to temporarily house unexploded munitions at the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa on Monday, injuring at least four people, according to local media and defense sources. The blast occurred around 11:20am local time, injuring four members of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF), according to military sources cited by public broadcasters NHK and Jiji Press. None of the injuries were life-threatening, officials said. The affected facility was reportedly operated by the Ground Self-Defense Force's unexploded ordnance disposal team and is located within the US military's largest air base in the Asia-Pacific region. 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. DETAILS TO FOLLOW
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