• An explosion occurred at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, injuring four Japanese personnel.
• The blast happened during bomb disposal operations involving unexploded ordnance.
• All injuries reported are non-life-threatening, with some resulting in finger lacerations.
• No evacuation was ordered for nearby residents following the explosion.

An explosion at the US military's Kadena Air Base in Okinawa has resulted in injuries to four members of the Japan Self-Defense Force (SDF) during bomb disposal operations. Reports indicate that the explosion occurred while personnel were assessing a shell for rust, and all injuries are not life-threatening, including finger lacerations and potential hearing damage, according to SCMP, Reuters, and Channel News Asia.

The explosion reportedly took place at a temporary storage site for unexploded bombs within the base. Local officials received confirmation from the defense ministry, with Yuta Matsuda, an official from Yomitan village, stating, "We’ve heard there was an explosion at the SDF facility," highlighting the ongoing assessment efforts. Jiji Press and other outlets have emphasized that the injuries reported were not serious, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and TRT.

Emergency services and local officials are investigating the incident, which opens discussions on the ongoing management of unexploded ordnance in Okinawa, an area significantly affected by World War II. The US bases occupy a prominent portion of the island, which houses roughly 70% of US military facilities in Japan, as mentioned by Newsweek and TRT. As a result of this incident, no evacuation order for nearby residents has been issued.