First responders work near Building 78, formerly the Skoshi Tiger Inn, at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, where unexploded ordnance was found on Oct. 14, 2025. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Some people living at the home of the 18th Wing sheltered in place for about an hour Tuesday after unexploded ordnance was discovered near one of the installation’s oldest buildings.

The wing issued three alerts through the Air Force Connect mobile application shortly after 10 a.m., notifying residents that unspecified ordnance had been found near Building 78 — the former Skoshi Tiger Inn — in the Clark Vista neighborhood.

The initial alert directed people to evacuate within 500 feet of the site. A follow-up alert about a half-hour later downgraded the response to shelter in place. Affected housing units in neighboring Washington Heights included 8101, 8102, 8104, 8106-8108, 8111, 8113, 8115, 8117, 8120, 8122 and 8124.

Other affected buildings were 60-65, 77, 85 and 86, according to the alerts.

The 18th Security Forces Squadron were removing a cordon at 10:40 a.m. Squadron police, firefighters and explosive ordnance disposal technicians with the 18th Civil Engineer Group left roughly five minutes later. An all-clear was issued through the app about 10 minutes after that.

Police at the scene declined to comment, referring questions to the wing’s public affairs office. The wing referred questions to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which declined to provide answers in an email Tuesday.

Building 78, completed in 1950, is the only brick structure on the base and one of its oldest, according to Kadena’s website. It was built as part of experiment to develop local industry and is now used as distinguished visitors quarters.