Two people died after two small boats capsized off the coast of Henoko, Okinawa, with a crew member expressing feeling responsible for the incident.
In a tragic maritime accident off the coast of Henoko, two individuals, including a 17-year-old high school girl, lost their lives when two small vessels capsized. The crew member of the 'Heiwa Maru,' which was carrying 21 people including 18 high school students from Doshisha International High School, recounted the incident to Asahi Shimbun. The boats were sailing approximately 1,500 meters off the coast when they encountered rough waves that led to their overturning. The crew member revealed feeling a sense of responsibility for the accident, having assumed the 'Heiwa Maru' was safe to operate despite a wave advisory being in effect at the time.
The two boats, the 'Heiwa Maru' (under 5 tons) and the 'Fukutsu' (1.9 tons), departed from Henoko Fishing Port together on the morning of the incident. While the captain of the 'Fukutsu' believed it was safe to set sail, the crew member noted that high swells had persisted since the previous weekend, though he hadn't considered them particularly dangerous. Unfortunately, a danger advisory had been issued for the coastal areas of Nago, but the crew was unaware of it prior to the accident. The boats were on a one-hour round trip, navigating in a restricted area outside of a U.S. military base relocation site.
After making a U-turn in 倧桦湾, an unfortunate turn of events occurred as they returned to shore. As they neared the reef, the situation escalated quickly, leading to the capsizing before anyone had the chance to react or escape. The incident has prompted questions about safety protocols for such trips and raised concerns regarding conditions at sea, especially in areas with known dangers.
