US, Oct. 2 -- An unexploded WWII American bomb detonated at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan today, creating a significant crater in the taxiway and bringing airport operations to screeching halt.

The explosive went off in the early morning hours, during a period of low activity at the coastal airport. Fortunately, no aircraft were in the vicinity of the bomb at the time of the explosion.

Online surveillance footage captures the explosion, which sent a towering column of dirt and smoke into the atmosphere. The characteristics of the blast indicate that the munition had been buried deep under the surface of the taxiway.

Local media reports indicate that the explosion was triggered by a 500-pound US bomb, which had been buried bene...