Unexploded WWII bomb closes Japanese airport

A major airport in Sendai, northern Japan, was closed after an unexploded bomb believed to date from WWII was uncovered near a runway during on going construction work.

Flights in and out of Sendai airport were cancelled and a military bomb disposal unit called in, which later identified the 250kg (550lb) bomb has been identified as one made in the US.

The airport was used as a Japanese military flight school during the war. It was closed for months due to damage from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Parts of the airport - a major hub for travel in northern Japan - are still being reconstructed.

Sendai police official Hiroshi Ouchi were reported as saying that evacuations of nearby homes may be considered.

The bomb disposal team is currently exploring options to either move the bomb or explode it on site.

By mid-day local time, the airport's flight information boards were still reportedly showing cancellations of both domestic and international flights.

It is common for bombs that are duds to be uncovered at constructions sites in Japan - many of its cities were bombed during WWII.