InfoAnda - 60 years after WWII, Okinawa still rife with bombs

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Toyota expands massive recall by million vehicles | 28 January 2010
China Mobile first-half profit up 1.4 percent | 21 August 2009
EU seeks the end of Mugabe government | 9 December 2008

Flood in new China coal mine traps 123 miners | 29 March 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : 60 years after WWII, Okinawa still rife with bombs

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: 60 years after WWII, Okinawa still rife with bombs By ERIC TALMADGE,Associated Press Writer AP - Sunday, May 3 ITOMAN, Japan - Under a blazing mid-afternoon sun, 1st Lt. Toshikazu Nakano squats in a muddy pit at the edge of a housing development and brushes rocks away from a shiny metal object lodged firmly in the ground. He stops for a moment and barks orders to the rest of his team. ADVERTISEMENT "This one might explode," he yells. "Everyone take cover." Like former battlefields all over the world, the southern Japan island of Okinawa _ home to more than 1 million people and the site of some of World War II's most savage fighting _ is a tinderbox of unexploded bombs, thousands and thousands of tons of them, rusted and often half buried. The bombs are the bane of construction crews, divers and unsuspecting children. Because of their age and the layers of crusty dirt that usually cover them, they often don't seem dangerous. "On the outside, these bombs look harmless _ but inside, they are as good as new," said Lt. Col. Hidenori Miyata, commander of the Japan Ground Self Defense Forces bomb squad on Okinawa. A series of incidents this year _ including the death last month of an American Marine involved in their disposal _ have caused an uproar on Okinawa. "In Okinawa, even today, residents have to evacuate every two weeks," Okinawan lawmaker Osamu Ashitomi told parliament after one of the most recent accidents. "The reality in Okinawa is that the war is not over yet." A Japanese tourist recently was stopped at Okinawa's main airport for packing an old grenade he had found in his bags as a souvenir. In late January, a group of Okinawan children brought some bombs to show off at an elementary school, forcing teachers to evacuate the area and call in members of Nakano's military bomb squad. No one was injured. Just a week later, however, a power shovel operator was blinded and badly burned, and windows were blown out of a retirement home nearby. He hit a 250-kilogram (551-pound) bomb in the middle of the booming city of Itoman on Okinawa's southern end, where some of the worst fighting of World War II took place. Then, on March 24, Okinawa suffered its first bomb fatality in years, when U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. John H. Roy III, 32, of Muscogee, Georgia, was killed while preparing a bomb for detonation at an American military disposal range. Another Marine and a sailor were injured. The U.S. military, which has several bases on Okinawa, destroys the recovered bombs. The blast on Camp Hansen was one of the worst accidents caused by the wartime ordnance since 1974, when three people were killed, including a 2-year-old girl, during sewer repairs near a kindergarten in Okinawa's capital, Naha. The danger is common at former battle sites around the world, according to the Mines Advisory Group, which won a Nobel Prize in 1997 for its work. Though not involved in Okinawa, MAG has run clearing operations in 35 countries, from Angola to Vietnam. Its main concern is the removal of landmines, but it also cooperates with local authorities in recovering other explosive remnants of war. MAG officials say much work remains to be done. "There are still numerous countries contaminated by landmines, anti-personnel or anti-tank, and there are regions and countries contaminated by unexploded ordnance, for example Lebanon with cluster munitions," said MAG spokesman Diderik van Halsema. "Its severity differs per country and region. Heavily contaminated countries are Afghanistan, Iraq, Angola. But there are also areas where not much is being done, such as Morocco, Algeria, and North and South Korea." Okinawa is one of the worst hotspots because of the sheer scale of the battle that raged there. The island was not mined, but it was bombed relentlessly. More people were killed in the April 1945 battle of Okinawa, called the "Storm of Steel," than by the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. The bombs, mortars, bullets and artillery shells that rained down on the island left 12,000 U.S. troops dead and killed as many as 250,000 Japanese, including many civilians who were caught in the crossfire in 2002. All told, about 200,000 tons of explosives were used by the U.S. and Okinawa's Japanese defenders. An estimated 10,000 tons of unexploded ordnance was left scattered across the island, mainly in the south. Japan surrendered in August 1945. Much of the ordnance had been recovered by the time the U.S. returned Okinawa to Japan in 1972. About 1,500 tons have been recovered since, a pace of about 30 tons a year. Along with responding to emergency calls, Nakano's squad deploys on regular missions once a week. "Today we went to 19 places and collected 42 explosives, from hand grenades to 5-inch artillery shells," he said after a 10-hour convoy through sugarcane farms, beachfront parks and numerous construction sites. "There is ordnance everywhere." By the end of the trip, the crew had collected enough explosives to fill the back of their flatbed truck, which travels flanked by three jeeps. The ordnance was then taken to a storage facility. After that, it is taken farther north and blown up on U.S. military ranges. The Japanese government is alarmed by the recent bomb-related accidents. "We must speed up the detection and excavation of the bombs that remain buried underground," National Public Safety Commission Chairman Tsutomu Sato, who is also in charge of Okinawa affairs, said last month. But those involved are looking at a long haul. "It could take another 60 years, it could take 80 or it could take 100," said Miyata, the local bomb squad commander. "We still have a lot of work to do." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article 0 users recommend Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Asia Pacific Malaysia's 'McCurry' cheers win over McDonald'sAFP - 2 hours 1 minute ago Judge: Mumbai attacks suspect to be tried as adultAP - 2 hours 14 minutes ago Pakistan: Islamic appellate court formedAP - 2 hours 26 minutes ago Sri Lanka rebels ask British, French to seek truceAFP - 2 hours 31 minutes ago Asia reports no new swine flu casesAP - 2 hours 57 minutes ago Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed Chrysler begins court bid for quick bankruptcy exit Citigroup may need $10 bln more: report Kenyan women to sex-starve men -- for politics Swine flu spreads economic shivers Google fields low-tech wildfire prevention: goats View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 3 May 2009
Two U.S. soldiers killed in northern Iraq | International |
Israel picks U.S. immigrant for new Washington envoy | International |
African Union panel on Darfur will meet ICC: Mbeki | International |
French forces grab 3 Somali pirates in Seychelles | International |
Gates on US troop numbers in Afghanistan
Anatomy of an `inside' ambush in Iraq
Gunman in Iraqi army uniform kills 2 US soldiers
Pakistan sets up Islamic court for restive region | International |
Millionaire magnate lures poor in Panama election | International |
Around 30 militants said killed in Afghan attacks
GM could follow Chrysler into bankruptcy: analysts
Gunmen kill Albanian opposition MP ahead of polls | International |
US, Canada, Mexico call for flu not to hit trade
Iran hangs woman convicted of murder as a minor
Fiat boss expected to discuss Opel bid with Germany
CORRECTED: Afghan presidential hopeful promises Talib | International |
Israeli airstrike against Gaza tunnels kills 2
Iran to review jail sentence of U.S.-born reporter
Amy Winehouse hospitalised after fainting
CORRECTED
Iran shells Kurdish rebel positions in north Iraq
BLM to get $300 million for stimulus projects
Buffett offers bleak outlook for U.S. newspapers | Technology |
Clinton returns to Oklahoma bombing site for tour
Boston Globe gets brief reprieve from closure
Spokeswoman: Jack Kemp, one-time VP nominee, dies
Airman in Alaska sentenced for forced miscarriage
At least 3 dead in Russia gas blast
Obamas take a walk, holding hands in the evening
Unpopular Sarkozy recasts his national role
Tweaked about fake tweets, Idaho gov joins Twitter
More than half L'Aquila quake homes 'habitable': Berlusconi
Venezuela's Chavez courts Iran as US shows concern
Chechen president denies link to exile's murder: report
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,284
Mo. woman convicted of murder commits suicide
Malaysia's 'McCurry' cheers win over McDonald's
Judge: Mumbai attacks suspect to be tried as adult
Pakistan: Islamic appellate court formed
Sri Lanka rebels ask British, French to seek truce
Asia reports no new swine flu cases
'Draconian' powers seen to contain swine flu
Pacquiao knocks out Hatton for historic triumph
Global Weather-Celsius
60 years after WWII, Okinawa still rife with bombs
Asia must retool to boost domestic demand: ADB
Pakistan sets up Islamic court for restive region
Japan offers 38.4 bln dlrs to Asian pool: minister
Swine flu could worsen global recession: analysts
Comedian Robert Schimmel arrested in assault case
Review: Welser-Moest gives magic to Wagner
WWOZ gives New Orleans Jazz Fest to the world
Girl's father does not want Madonna to adopt her
Irish recession strains marriages: church
`Wolverine' has box-office bite with $35M debut
Nepal Maoists sack army chief | International |
Egypt pig farmers clash with police over slaughter
U.S. urges calm after three die in south Yemen clashes | International |
Israel considers pullout from Lebanon border village
Berlusconi's wife wants to file for divorce: press | International |
Israel's Lieberman off to Europe amid tensions
Iraqi forces arrest U.S.-allied militia leader | International |
Father rejects Madonna's adoption bid: report
Pakistan's Imran Khan barred from Karachi | International |
Afghan music school emerges from ruins
Six climbers killed in Austria Alps avalanche | International |
Obama set for 'intense' Pakistan, Afghan summit
Zimbabwe orders school fee cuts as economy struggles | International |
Ethanol test for Obama on climate change, science
Israel considers pullout from Lebanon border village | International |
Medvedev brings new style to the Kremlin | International |
NATO games in Georgia draw fire from Russia | International |
Cautious optimism on flu but US 'not out of woods'
Ethanol test for Obama on climate change, science
THE INFLUENCE GAME: Lobbyists prosper in downturn
Iran: US journalist's case will get fair review
SC search for missing NY teen turns up no clues
Canadian party taps Ignatieff as leader
Times Co., Boston Globe unions resume negotiations
Cause not yet known in 28-injury tour bus wreck
2 win Alaska betting game, guess river ice breakup
Afghan rights chief fears vote fraud against women
Key party quits Nepal's coalition government
Taliban behead two Pakistani officials in Swat
Pakistan creates Islamic court
Sydney police rescue alleged burglar from rooftop
Mexico sees swine flug coming under control
HBO's Alzheimer's series aims to push for cure | Entertainment |
Philippine rebels attack plantation, 9 wounded
Rights chief warns of Afghan vote fraud
Nepal's prime minister fires army chief
Brazil films shown in NY examine slums, hunger | Entertainment |
ASEAN, China, Japan, SKorea finalise crisis pact
Asia urged to rethink growth policies amid crisis
'Best job' contenders arrive on Aussie island
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01