Asbestos found in cracking balconies at Okinawa Marine base; repairs pushed to late fall
By BRIAN MCELHINEY STARS AND STRIPES •
October 10, 2025
CAMP KINSER, Okinawa — The Okinawa Military Housing Office has delayed repair work on spalled concrete at housing towers on this Marine Corps base after discovering asbestos in some balconies, according to the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base. The wing’s 718th Civil Engineer Squadron identified “limited areas containing asbestos” in some residential balconies in the towers, the wing wrote in an unsigned email Friday. The message did not specify which towers were affected. “The material is non-friable (tightly packed) and remains contained, meaning it does not pose a health risk to residents under current conditions,” the email said. The discovery was made during early inspection and planning phases for repairs and required “additional coordination and contracting to ensure proper abatement procedures,” according to the wing. Residents have been instructed to not attempt self-repairs, and to avoid spalling debris if it is discovered. Spalling refers to cracking and delaminating steel-reinforced concrete.
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https://www.stripes.com/theaters/asia_pacific/2025-10-10/asbestos-okinawa-housing-towers-19378244.htmlSource - Stars and Stripes
