Police restricted access to the beach within 200 meters for most of the day while bomb disposal teams investigated the “suspicious” object which has left authorities baffled
The huge mystery object stands at 1.5 meters (Image: Twitter/nhk_shizuoka_)
Police confirmed the ball has a diameter of around 1.5 meters, and is believed to be made of iron and coated in rust.
As a safety precaution, authorities restricted access within 200-metres of the object of “unknown origin”.
【動画】海岸に謎の鉄球？
静岡県浜松市の遠州浜海岸に
直径１点５メートルほどの
金属製の球体が
打ち上げられているのが
見つかりました警察が調べたところ
爆発の危険性はありませんが
どのような物かは詳しく
わかっていないということです pic.twitter.com/M8qpnfdWWy— NHK静岡放送局 (@nhk_shizuoka_) February 21, 2023
The stretch of the beach was closed off for most of the day while bomb squads got to work.
An X-ray determined the object was hollow and there was no danger of explosion.
Restrictions were lifted at around 4pm.
The sphere was spotted by a woman walking on the beach with her husband (Image: Twitter/nhk_shizuoka_)
However, cops were still uncertain about what the particular object is, or what its purpose is.
The bizarre discovery prompted a wide range of speculation, with some users online linking it to the alleged ‘spy’ balloons which have been sighted across North America this month.
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However, News.com.au reported that some believe the object closely resembles a mooring buoy as it has a protrusion that would allow it to be hooked onto something.
Japanese police say they will ask local officials responsible for coastal management to collect the ball.