TOKYO — A US bomb buried at a Japanese airport exploded on Wednesday, causing a crater in a taxiway and the cancellation of more than 80 flights.

The minor blast left a hole about seven meters (23 feet) wide but no casualties were reported and no aircraft were nearby at the time.

The bomb, which exploded at Miyazaki Airport in south-west Japan, is thought to have been dropped during World War Two to stem "kamikaze" planes on suicide missions.

"There is no threat of a second explosion, and police and firefighters are currently examining the scene," chief cabinet secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said, adding that the airport aimed to reopen on Thursday.

A bomb disposal team from Japan's Self-Defense Forces confirmed a 500lb US bomb had been the source of the blast.

While a transport minister said they could not confirm when the bomb was dropped, local media reported it was likely during World War Two.

Located at the southeast end of Kyushu island, Miyazaki Airport was built in 1943 as an imperial Japanese navy base.

Other unexploded ordinance dropped by the US was reportedly found at a nearby construction site in 2009 and 2011.

Unexploded bombs remain buried around the country. Reuters news agency said a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 41 tonnes were disposed of during 2023. — BBC