Tokyo, June 9
Four members of Japan Ground Self Defence Force (JGSDF) were injured after an explosion occurred Monday near the US military's Kadena Air Base in the southern Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, the Japanese media reported.
The defence personnel were working at a depot, local and Defence Ministry officials said. At around 11:20 am local time, the fire department received reports about the explosion at the SDF-managed facility when the SDF personnel were preparing to carry out bomb disposal operations.
"The ministry officials said there was an unidentified explosion while SDF personnel were preparing for bomb disposal operations, causing those in close proximity to suffer finger lacerations and possible hearing damage. The explosion appears to have occurred at an SDF storage facility for unexploded bombs in the ammunition depot area of the base, a Defense Ministry source said," Japan's News reported.
Citing local authorities, it said that no evacuation order has been issued for nearby residents, and there is no risk of further explosions or fire.
The four SDF members working at the depot were taken to hospital following the incident, suffering injuries including burns to their fingers, another report said.
None of the injured are in critical condition, it added.