Three Japanese soldiers died as a result of the explosion of a tank during a military exercise at a range in Oita.

Three Japanese soldiers died on Tuesday as a result of an explosion in a tank they were in, announced Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The accident, considered unusual, occurred at a training ground of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in the Oita region, southwestern Japan. The explosion was caused by the detonation of ammunition inside the tank, which killed three crew members and injured a woman.

Prime Minister Takaichi expressed condolences and stated that the circumstances of the accident are under investigation. This incident comes two years after a collision between military helicopters that resulted in eight deaths and another accident in 2025, when two soldiers died following the crash of a plane. Authorities continue to analyze the situation to prevent such tragedies in the future.