A painstaking operation to recover the bodies of thousands of soldiers left sealed in caves since the Second World War is underway.
More than 2,600 Japanese troops are believed to have been entombed in explosive-ridden underground networks on a remote coral island in the Pacific nation of Palau.
Local and Japanese archaeologists, guided by munitions experts, have begun a delicate search of about 200 sealed caves, which are littered with unexploded bombs.
The soldiers were trapped underground during heavy bombing as US forces invaded the six-mile long island to take a strategic air field in one of the deadliest battles of the war.
Japanese forces used the caves as a base to defend the island and connected the underground shelters with a network of tunnels and passageways.
More than 10,000 Japanese troops were killed during the ten-week invasion but the bodies of 2,600 were never recovered.
Palau officials have now agreed to open about 200 sealed caves to try and locate the remains ahead of a visit early next month by Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Gaining access to the caves, located in thick forest littered with explosives, is proving difficult and experts took five days to break into just a small seven-foot opening last week.
But archaeologists have already recovered a set of bones which are believed to be human and are due to be sent to Japan for testing.
"They found some bones while they were clearing the entrance of the cave," Bernadette Carreon, a local journalist, told ABC Radio. "They did not use heavy equipment because they have to make it clear of heavy ordnance. When it's clear, the archaeologists can go in and start bone collection."
Families of the missing soldiers have sent representatives to assist with the search and officials in Palau have worked closely with Japan in the past to return any discovered remains home.
Sachio Kageyama, from a group representing families and fellow soldiers of those who fought on the island, told The Japan Times: "I hope the forthcoming visit by the emperor will pave the way for [further] collection of remains."
Experts searching for the missing soldiers are also hoping to locate a long-lost mass grave on the western side of the island.
Documents indicating its location were found in a US naval museum two years ago, including a map pointing to a "Japanese cemetery" in the centre of the island.
US officials have also been searching coral reefs, lagoons and islands surrounding Palau for planes that were lost in the bloody conflict.
Monday 30 March 2015
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/painstaking-search-bodies-2600-soldiers-5424638
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