A tragic incident occurred during the recovery efforts of remains at the Jousei Underwater Coal Mine in Japan, where a diver, a Taiwanese national in his 50s, succumbed after complications related to oxygen supply. Eye witnesses and officials from a citizen group, 'Jousei Coal Mine Water Incident Commemoration Group', reported that the diver experienced hyperoxia, which can lead to oxygen toxicity and involuntary muscle spasms, causing him to lose control of his breathing apparatus and ultimately leading to his drowning just ten minutes into his descent. Despite immediate first aid efforts, he could not be revived, prompting concerns about the safety measures and protocol in place for underwater recovery operations.

This mine, notorious for the tragic deaths of 183 individuals, including Korean laborers during the Japanese occupation in the 1940s, has been under investigation for decades. Following the resurfacing of the site, which had been buried for years, divers have been active in retrieving remains as part of a historical acknowledgment and memorial effort. The Jousei incident underscores the lack of safety protocols, particularly in regards to the oxygen supply for divers, which has raised significant questions about the adequacy of training and equipment readiness among the teams tasked with such dangerous work.

As the 84th anniversary of the incident approaches, various international teams, including divers from Japan, Taiwan, Finland, and Indonesia, are continuing their efforts to recover remains. Such initiatives are not only crucial for honoring the victims but also highlight the need for rigorous safety standards for divers, particularly when dealing with historical sites that hold the weight of collective memory and trauma from past labor exploitation.