Interest

Otaroad Closing Tomorrow As Officials Remove Unexploded 1-Ton Bomb

The Animate store in near Otaroad in Osaka announced it will close for several hours tomorrow while the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces remove an American-made, one-ton bomb that was found in March.

Officials are cordoning off a 1,000-foot radius from the bomb site and asking the 2,200 residents within that area to leave the perimeter while the area closes. Approximately 500 businesses will also be affected for the expected four hours it will take to remove the bomb.

A construction worker found the unexploded bomb two meters underground on the construction site for a new apartment building near Osaka's Nankai Namba Station. The bomb is confirmed to be American made and measures 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) in diameter and 180 centimeters (about 6 feet) in length.

The Japan Ground Self Defense Forces covered the bomb in a fireproof sheet and covered the still in-tact fuse with a safety cap.

In February 2013, a similar unexploded bomb was found in Osaka's Kita ward. At that time, the authorities decided to evacuate all buildings within a 300 meter radius and block off the area.

Thanks Hanoch Aronson for the news tip

[Via Kotaku]