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Land mine explodes in Japan
Source: Agencies |
January 15, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A POWERFUL explosion shook a small Japanese town yesterday when a construction crew accidentally set off what may have been a land mine from World War II.
The blast sent chunks of asphalt and concrete flying and shattered windows at a retirement home about 30 meters away. Local residents said it shook buildings in the area.
The operator of a power shovel that hit the explosive, 25-year old Jun Kohagura, was cut in the face by flying glass from the machine's front window, according to a police spokesman.
The explosive was about a meter below the surface. The incident occurred around 8:20am local time in Itoman, on the island of Okinawa.
Okinawa was the scene of fierce battles between United States and Japanese troops in the final phases of World War II.
Local officials estimate there are still 2,500 tons of mines, rockets and other explosives on islands in the area. About 1,500 tons have been disposed of since 1945.
The blast sent chunks of asphalt and concrete flying and shattered windows at a retirement home about 30 meters away. Local residents said it shook buildings in the area.
The operator of a power shovel that hit the explosive, 25-year old Jun Kohagura, was cut in the face by flying glass from the machine's front window, according to a police spokesman.
The explosive was about a meter below the surface. The incident occurred around 8:20am local time in Itoman, on the island of Okinawa.
Okinawa was the scene of fierce battles between United States and Japanese troops in the final phases of World War II.
Local officials estimate there are still 2,500 tons of mines, rockets and other explosives on islands in the area. About 1,500 tons have been disposed of since 1945.
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